Prevalence of depressive symptoms and mood disorders in primary care: a Spanish rural study

5-10% of primary care patients present a classification diagnosis of Major Depression, 5-10% of Dysthymia and 20% "depressive symptoms only". We tried to obtain the prevalence of depressive symptoms in a Spanish primary care area (11,667 adult inhabitants, Seville).

a randomized sample of 221 people (SE = 0.0025, a = 0.05) was initially examined using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The patients with a BDI > 16 were considered as "cases" and were extensively examined using the "Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry" (SCAN).

Our prevalence of depressive symptoms was higher than that reported in international studies with similar BDI cutting-scores. Class-linked vulnerability could play an important aetiological role. Prevalences of Major Depression and Dysthymia were similar to other reports using structured diagnostic interviews. The cases were usually lower-class females, and they also presented medium or high psychosocial disability. Depressive symptoms and mood disorders in Primary Care represent an unsolved health care problem today.