P.2.a.014 Point prevalence of major depressive episode and associated sociodemographic characteristics in the general population of Latvia

Background. This study set out to estimate the 12-month prevalence of DSM-III-R major depressive episode (MDE) and to analyse factors associating with psychosocial impairment, episode duration, phenomenology and symptom severity in a representative general population sample of adolescents (15–19-year-olds) and young adults (20–24-year-olds).Method. The Finnish Health Care Survey '96 (FINHCS '96) was a cross-sectional nationwide epidemiological study. A random sample of 509 adolescents and 433 young adults was interviewed in 1996. MDE was assessed by University of Michigan Composite Diagnostic Interview Short-Form.Results. The 12-month prevalence of MDE was 5·3% for adolescents (females 6·0%, males 4·4%) and 9·4% for young adults (females 10·7%, males 8·1%). When moderate psychosocial impairment was included in case definition, the prevalences were lowered by 20–25%. Increased impairment was associated with drunkenness at least twice a month, a higher mean number of depressive symptoms and impaired concentration. The median episode duration was 1 month. No factors associating with duration were found. With the exception of symptoms related to appetite being more common among females than males, the phenomenology of MDE was mainly independent of age and gender.Conclusions. Episodes of major depression among adolescents and young adults in the general population are short but often associated with psychosocial impairment, especially if frequent drunkenness coexists.

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Point prevalence of major depression in Estonia. Results from the 2006 Estonian Health Survey

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2010.06.005 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 25 (8) ◽

pp. 485-490 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

A. Kleinberg ◽

A. Aluoja ◽

V. Vasar

Keyword(s):

Health Status ◽

Major Depression ◽

Health Survey ◽

Depressive Episode ◽

Major Depressive Episode ◽

Point Prevalence ◽

Major Depressive ◽

Major Depressive Episodes ◽

Depressive Episodes ◽

Estonian Population

AbstractAimThe study focuses on the point prevalence of major depressive episode in the Estonian population in 2006 and assesses the relationship of sociodemographic factors, health status indicators, alcohol use, and previous depressive episodes to major depression.MethodsThe present major depressive episode was assessed within the nationally representative, cross-sectional 2006 Estonian Health Survey (EHIS 2006), in which non-institutionalized individuals aged 18–84 years (n = 6105) were interviewed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI).ResultsThe point prevalence of major depressive episode in the Estonian population was 5.6%. Depression was higher among females, in the non-Estonian ethnic group, among people older than 40 years, and in the lower-income group.ConclusionsThe point prevalence of major depressive episodes was comparable with the results of other population surveys, being a little higher than the average. Age, income, ethnicity, health status, self-rated health, and previous depressive episode were independent associates of depression.

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