3. Who is at risk of depression?
One advantage of the more consistent application of diagnostic criteria for identifying individuals with a depressive disorder is that it allows national and international comparisons to be undertaken. Large-scale studies make it possible to estimate the overall prevalence and distribution of depression cases by country, culture, economic and social status, and other demographic features such as age, gender, and marital status. ‘Who is at risk of depression?’ explores the epidemiology of depression (the distribution and determinants of depression-related states), gives examples of the presentation of depression across the lifespan, and discusses the association between physical disorders and depression. Lastly, it highlights some of the current thinking on prevention of suicide.