Magnitude of depression problem among primary care consumers in Saudi Arabia
Background: Depression is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. It is estimated that 5–10% of the population at any given time is suffering from identifiable depression needing psychiatric or psychosocial intervention. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of depression and associat...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2015
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/8769/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/8769/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/8769/1/P.205-210.pdf |
| Summary: | Background: Depression is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. It is estimated that 5–10% of the population
at any given time is suffering from identifiable depression needing psychiatric or psychosocial intervention.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of depression and associated risk factors among adult primary care consumers
in Saudi Arabia.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in four primary healthcare (PHC) centers in Al Khobar for
screening of adult consumers for depression. The data were collected by interviewing a sample of 850 male and female
visitors by using the Arabic version of Patient Health Questionnaire 9.
Results: The prevalence of moderate to severe depression among adult PHC consumers was about 16%. Its occurrence
was more than double among women than men. The most common manifestations of depression were sleeping and eating
problems, while suicidal thoughts were reported by 3.8% of depressed people. The main predictors of depression were
female gender, family history of depression or psychiatric diseases, personal history of chronic diseases, especially
cardiovascular and skin diseases, and being unemployed or unmarried; the predictors of suicidal ideation were severe
depression, female gender, and low level of education.
Conclusion: We conclude from this study that about one-sixth of PHC consumers in Saudi Arabia are suffering from
moderate to severe depression and its occurrence was more in women than men, illiterate, and unemployed. |
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