Prevalence, work-loss days and quality of life of community dwelling subjects with depressive symptoms

The nationwide prevalence of major depressive disorder in Korea is lower than most countries, despite the high suicide rate. To explain this unexpectedly low prevalence, we examined the functional disability and quality of life in community-dwelling subjects with significant depressive symptoms not...

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Published inJournal of Korean medical science Vol. 28; no. 2; pp. 280 - 286
Main Authors Sohn, Jee Hoon, Ahn, Seung Hee, Seong, Su Jeong, Ryu, Ji Min, Cho, Maeng Je
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Korea (South) The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences 01.02.2013
대한의학회
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Summary:The nationwide prevalence of major depressive disorder in Korea is lower than most countries, despite the high suicide rate. To explain this unexpectedly low prevalence, we examined the functional disability and quality of life in community-dwelling subjects with significant depressive symptoms not diagnosable as depressive disorder. A total of 1,029 subjects, randomly chosen from catchment areas, were interviewed with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, WHO Quality of Life scale, and the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule. Those with scores over 21 on the depression scale were interviewed by a psychiatrist for diagnostic confirmation. Among community-dwelling subjects, the 1-month prevalence of major depressive disorder was 2.2%, but the 1-month prevalence of depressive symptoms not diagnosable as depressive disorder was 14.1%. Depressive disorders were the cause of 24.7% of work loss days, while depressive symptoms not diagnosable as depressive disorder were the cause of 17.2% of work loss days. These findings support the dimensional or spectrum approach to depressive disorder in the community and might be the missing link between the apparent low prevalence of depressive disorder and high suicide rate in Korea.
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G704-000345.2013.28.2.014
ISSN:1011-8934
1598-6357
DOI:10.3346/jkms.2013.28.2.280