Time trends in prevalence of depressive disorder in the Danish working population from 2012 to 2018

Research suggests that the prevalence of depressive disorder is increasing globally in the general population, but it is unclear if this holds true for the working population. We analysed e trends in the prevalence of depressive disorder in four nationwide, weighted samples of the Danish working population from 2012 to 2018.

We used data from the Work Environment and Health in Denmark study, which is a series of nationwide cross-sectional surveys on working conditions and health conducted in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018 (N = 76,770). We used a Major Depression Inventory score ≥ 21 to indicate a depressive disorder and further ICD-10 and DSM-IV algorithms in supplementary analyses. We calculated weighted prevalence, change in prevalence, and estimated average Annual Percent Change (APC).

The point-prevalence of depressive disorder was 7.2 % (95 % CI: 7.2; 7.3) in the 2012-survey and 11.2 % (11.1; 11.2) in 2018, yielding a total relative increase in prevalence over the six-year period of 54.0 % (53.6; 55.8) and an APC of 6.7 (95 % CI: 2.3; 11.4). We observed the higher prevalence in both men and women, in all age and educational groups, and in different occupational positions. Women, young individuals, and individuals of lower socioeconomic position had a higher prevalence of depressive disorder that persisted in all waves. Analyses using the ICD-10 or DSM-IV definitions of depressive disorder showed lower prevalence but similar trends over time.

The results suggest that the general population trend towards an increase in depressive disorder also applies to the working population in Denmark.