title: Prevalence of depression in rural Rwanda based on symptom and functional criteria.
abstract: The authors' objective was to estimate the prevalence of major depressive disorder among Rwandans 5 years after the 1994 genocidal civil war. They interviewed a community-based random sample of adults in a rural part of Rwanda using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist and a locally developed functional impairment instrument. The authors estimated current rates of major depression using an algorithm based on the DSM-IV symptom criteria (A), distress/functional impairment criteria (C), and bereavement exclusionary criteria (E). They also examined the degree to which depressive symptoms compromise social and occupational functioning. Three hundred sixty-eight adults were interviewed, of whom 15.5% met Criteria A, C, and E for current major depression. Depressive symptoms were strongly associated with functional impairment in most major roles for men and women. The authors conclude that a significant part of this population has seriously disabling depression. Work on appropriate, feasible, safe, and effective mental health interventions should be a priority for this population.
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006708:Homicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012432:Rwanda / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors