title: [Chronic course and psychosocial disability caused by depressive illnesses in general practice patients during a one year period. Results of a study by the World Health Organization].
abstract: As part of an international WHO study on psychological disorders in primary health care, patients were examined for mental disorders and especially depression and social disability in the course of 1 year. Depression is common in primary care (8.6%) and frequently associated with recurring or chronic courses (33.3%). Depression at baseline leads to a 100% increase of lost working days (3.2 per month) 1 year later as compared to patients without depression (1.7). The diagnosis of depression at baseline poses a greater risk for a relevant and lasting psychosocial disability (28.2%) than e.g. chronic somatic illnesses (8.6%). Even the diagnosis of a subthreshold depression leads comparatively to a higher degree of psychosocial disability (15.6% of patients) and days of absenteeism at work during the last month (2.9 days).
authors.affiliation: Poliklinik und Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universität Bonn.
authors.forename: K U
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Kühn
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Quednow
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barkow
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heun
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Linden
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Maier
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012008:Recurrence; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D014944:World Health Organization