Mental well-being in 5000 women participating in the 'Women-Plus' preventive medicine program

In the present study, we report on an additive evaluation of mental well-being in an established program of preventive medicine including general and gynecologic examination, and screening mammography. An easy-to-use questionnaire including 19 questions was completed by 5247 women. Answers were grouped into mental well-being, zest for living, sexuality, and self-assessment of psychic disorders. A risk score for the presence of major depression was calculated. Women with high and intermediate risk for major depression were found in 5.0-7.2% and 15.4-19.8% depending on age, respectively. Seven to 9.2% and 19.2-26.5% of women suspected themselves to be at a high and intermediate risk for psychic disorders, respectively. Deterioration of well-being as well as the risk of developing depression is mostly overlooked in a general preventive medicine setting. We conclude that problems involving mental well-being seem to affect a significant number of women. The incorporation of easy-to-use questionnaires able to screen for mental problems to general preventive medicine programs must be strongly recommended.