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A National Depression Index for Australia
Andrew Mackinnon1, Anthony F Jorm, Ian B Hickie
1Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria, Department of Psychological Medicine, Monash University, Locked Bag 11, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia. ajm@mhri.edu.au.
The Medical Journal of Australia
|October 7, 2004
Summary
A new National Depression Index was developed to measure Australian population depression. The index, based on Kessler Psychological Distress Scale items, is a valid tool for monitoring mental health trends.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Depression is a significant public health concern in Australia.
- Accurate population-level measurement of depression is crucial for effective health policy and intervention.
- Existing measures may not be easily interpretable by the general public.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a National Depression Index for the Australian adult population.
- To create a scalable measure reflecting the relative risk of depression.
- To establish benchmark levels for future population health monitoring.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of cross-sectional data from the National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing (2000) and the National Health Survey (2001).
- Utilized six items from the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) most correlated with DSM-IV major depressive episodes.
- Developed a computerised interview for DSM-IV diagnoses.
Main Results:
- Identified six key K10 items strongly associated with major depressive episodes.
- Developed a National Depression Index, scaled to 100 for the Australian adult population.
- Index values were higher in younger individuals, females, the unemployed, and those socioeconomically disadvantaged, supporting its validity.
Conclusions:
- The National Depression Index is a valid and reliable measure of depression and depressive symptoms.
- The index is suitable for ongoing population-level mental health monitoring in Australia.
- The measure's scaling allows for public interpretation and comparison across different groups and future surveys.