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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 1/2007

01-01-2007 | ORIGINAL PAPER

Detection of major depression in Ugandan primary health care settings using simple questions from a subjective well-being (SWB) subscale

Authors: Wilson Winstons Muhwezi, BA (SWSA), MPhil, Hans Ågren, MD, PhD, Seggane Musisi, MD, FRCP(C)

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 1/2007

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Abstract

Objective

To explore whether the 4-item subjective well-being subscale could be used to detect a major depressive illness. Secondly, to describe the prevalence and characteristics of depressed health care attendees at primary healthcare centres.

Method

Using a descriptive, cross-sectional study design, we interviewed 199 consecutive patients about their socio-demographics, subjective well-being (SWB), major depressive illness symptoms and depression severity. The instruments used were translated into Luganda.

Results

Point prevalence of a current Major Depressive Episode (MDE) was 31.6%. Using a one week reference period, we found that experiencing a lot of distress, having less energy or poor health, having poor emotional and psychological adjustment and not being satisfied with life were significantly more common among patients with a current MDE. The 4-item SWB subscale detected depression of up to 87.1% (95% CI: 0.818–0.923). In logistic regression, all four SWB items predicted a current MDE.

Conclusion

Major depressive illness is a common at primary healthcare level in Uganda. Four simple questions reflecting SWB items have potential to detect diagnosable patients likely to have a current MDE, making general screening procedures less necessary.
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Metadata
Title
Detection of major depression in Ugandan primary health care settings using simple questions from a subjective well-being (SWB) subscale
Authors
Wilson Winstons Muhwezi, BA (SWSA), MPhil
Hans Ågren, MD, PhD
Seggane Musisi, MD, FRCP(C)
Publication date
01-01-2007
Publisher
Steinkopff-Verlag
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 1/2007
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0132-5

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