title: Depression in dermatological patients identified by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview questionnaire.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Early diagnosis and treatment of depression are of vital importance in dermatological patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our purpose was to evaluate the prevalence of depression among patients visiting a dermatology clinic in southern Israel.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who visited the dermatology clinic were interviewed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview screening tool.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 384 patients. The screening questionnaire identified 37 patients (9.6%) with major depression, 3 patients (0.8%) with minor depression, and 74 patients (19.3%) with depressive symptoms. Higher prevalence of depression was found among widowers, among divorced or separated patients, and in unemployed patients. Depression was significantly associated with the perception of severity and suffering induced by the skin diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study was conducted in a cross-sectional design. To confirm causality, a longitudinal study should be conducted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depression should be a consideration by dermatologists in the effective management of skin diseases.
authors.affiliation: Clalit Health Services, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. arcohen@clalit.org.il
authors.forename: Arnon D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Andr'e
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ofek-Shlomai
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Vardy
authors.forename: Zeev
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Weiner
authors.forename: Pesach
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shvartzman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014478:Unemployment