Preview

PDF Not available 114Kb

Objective: To assess the prevalence, symptom severity, functional impairment and treatment of major depressive episodes in the New Zealand population, in light of recent criticism that depression is ‘over-diagnosed’, especially in community surveys. Method: Nationally representative cross-sectional household survey of 12 992 adults (aged 16+): The New Zealand Mental Health Survey 2003/4. 12-month major depressive episode measured in face-to-face interviews with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 3.0). Results: The 12-month prevalence of major depressive episode (MDE) was 6.6% for the total population, with decreasing prevalence with increasing age, and higher prevalence in females (8.1% versus 4.9% in males). Fewer than 10% of 12-month episodes were classified on a symptom severity rating scale as mild, and 69% of all episodes were accompanied by severe impairment in at least one domain of functioning. Only a third of those with severe impairment received treatment in the mental health sector, and half saw a general medical practitioner. Conclusion: These results offer little support for the suggestion that depression is over-diagnosed and over-treated, and that current diagnostic thresholds allow the inclusion of too many mild episodes in community surveys.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	cross-sectional survey, diagnosis, impairment, major depressive episode, severity
Research Division:	Health Sciences
Research Group:	Health services and systems
Research Field:	Mental health services
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Public health (excl. specific population health)
Objective Field:	Mental health
UTAS Author:	Browne, MAO (Professor Mark Oakley Browne)
ID Code:	65318
Year Published:	2010
Web of Science® Times Cited:	7
Deposited By:	Medicine
Deposited On:	2010-11-03
Last Modified:	2011-04-19
Downloads:	0