title: Selecting key variables for depression prevention: results from a population-based prospective epidemiological study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Given the existing economic constraints, prevention of depression has to be carefully targeted, and applied where it is likely to yield the highest possible health benefits at the lowest possible cost.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify those risk factors of depression that have the greatest use potential from the perspective of prevention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were derived from a population-based prospective cohort of 4664 adults who had never experienced a depression. Their health status was re-examined after 1 year. Incidence rate ratios (IRR), population attributable risks (PAR) and numbers needed to be treated (NNT) were calculated to create a hierarchy of risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Selecting high-risk groups with migraine, abdominal and respiratory complaints and markers of vulnerability or childhood trauma appears to be an indicated strategy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study illustrates how epidemiology can contribute towards setting a Research and Development agenda for primary prevention of depression.
authors.affiliation: Trimbos Institute, The Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, P.O. Box 275, 3500 AS Utrecht, The Netherlands. fsmit@trimbos.nl
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: Aartjan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beekman
authors.forename: Pim
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cuijpers
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Graaf
authors.forename: Wilma
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vollebergh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology