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Prevalence, trends, correlates and treatment of depression in Chile in 2003 to 2010

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Abstract

Purpose

There is a need for recent, nationally representative data on the prevalence of mental disorders in Latin America. We aim to assess the prevalence of depression in Chile and possible changes over time.

Methods

In the Chilean National Health Surveys in 2003 (n = 5469) and 2010 (n = 7212), two nationally representative cross-sectional population surveys, the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, Short Form (CIDI-SF) was applied to establish diagnosis of major depressive episode (MDE) using DSM-IV criteria. Sociodemographic correlates of MDE and time trends were analyzed.

Results

The prevalence of MDE was 20.5% (95% CI 18.3–22.7) in 2003 and 18.4% (95% CI 16.5–20.2) in 2010. In 2003, women and persons residing in urban areas had increased risk of depression, whereas in 2010 the risk factors were female sex, younger age and lower education. There were up to 15-fold differences in prevalence between regions. No significant changes in prevalence occurred over the observation period. 21.2% (95% CI 16.6–25.8) of those depressed were currently receiving antidepressant treatment, with large regional variations in access to treatment.

Conclusions

Depressive disorders are a pressing public health concern in Chile, and particularly women, persons with low education, and the poorer regions of the country are affected. Prompt actions are needed to address the burden of depression with sufficient resources for treatment and prevention.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Niina Markkula & Pedro Retamal C.

  2. Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Health, Monjitas 565, Santiago, Chile

    Niina Markkula

  3. National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland

    Niina Markkula & Sebastián Peña

  4. Barros Luco Hospital, Santiago, Chile

    Pedro Zitko

  5. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Pedro Zitko & Paula Margozzini

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  1. Niina Markkula
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  2. Pedro Zitko
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  3. Sebastián Peña
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  4. Paula Margozzini
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  5. Pedro Retamal C.
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Correspondence to Niina Markkula.

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Financial support

The Chilean National Health Survey was carried out with financial support from the Government of Chile. The research presented in this manuscript received no specific grant from any funding agency, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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The authors assert that all procedures contributing to this work comply with the ethical standards of the relevant national and institutional committees on human experimentation and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1964 and its later amendments. All participants provided written informed consent.

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Markkula, N., Zitko, P., Peña, S. et al. Prevalence, trends, correlates and treatment of depression in Chile in 2003 to 2010. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 52, 399–409 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-017-1346-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-017-1346-4

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