Epidemiology of mood disorders: a community survey in Florence

A structured interview designed to detect affective disorders and to produce both DSM-III and DSM-III-R diagnoses was administered to a community sample of 1000 people living in Florence. The interviews were carried out by physician-psychiatrists (qualified psychiatrists or 3rd-4th-year trainees) trained in the use of operational diagnoses. The 1-year prevalence and point prevalence were, respectively: 1.7% and 0.6% for bipolar disorder; 0.4% and 0.4% for cyclothymia; 6.2% and 2.8% for major depression; 2.6% and 0.8% for dysthymia; 5.2% and 1.8% for depressive disorder not otherwise specified. Most of the cases affected by mood disorder sought medical help, primarily through their GP. The large majority of them were specifically treated for it and, in almost 60% of the cases with a major form, were referred to a psychiatrist.