[Epidemiological study of depression in Japan].
Recent epidemiological studies in Western countries have been carried out using either questionnaires or diagnostic structured interviews. Use of these instruments enhances the reliability and validity of epidemiological diagnoses and of transcultural comparisons. In Japan, psychiatric epidemiology is still in the 'neonatal' stage. A very limited number of studies have used a structured interview or operational diagnostic criteria. In these studies, the prevalence of Major Depression was surprisingly high, particularly in younger age groups. As in reports from Western countries, the prevalence was about twice as high among women as among men. In addition, some researchers have focused on depression in elderly or adolescent populations or in medical outpatients. However, such studies have all been of a small sample size. Studies with large samples are therefore required.
Kimura
T
T
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kumamoto University School of Medicine.
Kitamura
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology