Key result
Depressive symptoms affect ~28% of Brazilians, presenting predominantly as major or severe cases.
Why the study?
Depression is a highly prevalent condition and a major public health issue in Brazil, requiring estimation of depressive symptom prevalence and sociodemographic correlates.
Cross-Sectional (n=3,007)
Yes
The prevalence of depressive symptoms in Brazil is high at 28.3%, with major depressive symptoms being the most frequent form.
High depressive symptom burden in Brazil warrants targeted screening; leaves open causal pathways and intervention priorities for longitudinal research.
OBJECTIVE: Depression is a highly prevalent condition and is considered a major public health issue. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in the Brazilian population and establish their sociodemographic correlates. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2005 and April 2006. Data were collected in face-to-face interviews using a standardized questionnaire. The sample consisted of 3,007 interviews with individuals aged 14 years and older and followed a probabilistic design covering the Brazilian national territory. Depressive symptoms were assessed according to the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. RESULTS: The observed prevalence of depressive symptoms was 28.3% (13% mild/moderate; 15.3% major/severe; p < 0.01). Increased depressive symptom rates were associated with being a female, being 45 years of age and older, having lower educational attainment, being single, having family income of up to 2.5 times minimum wage, and living in the northern region of Brazil (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of depressive symptoms in Brazil is high, with major depressive symptoms being the most frequent form of this symptomatology. Considering the biopsychosocial model of mental disorders, this survey points to the involvement of psychosocial factors in the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Brazil.
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Coelho et al. (2013) conducted a cross-sectional in Depressive symptoms (n=3,007). Sociodemographic factors was evaluated on Prevalence of depressive symptoms. The prevalence of depressive symptoms in Brazilians aged 14 and older was 28.3%, with major/severe symptoms (15.3%) being more frequent than mild/moderate symptoms (13%; p<0.01).
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