[Depression and quality of life].
A narrative review is made on the subject, highlighting the research conducted in our country under the direction and support of FUNDONAR Foundation, by the use of the World Health Organization transcultural quality of life measure (WHOQOL). Quality of life measurements have shown the strong impact of depression on people's well being, and also on all life aspects that they believe important, depending on their personal and cultural expectations. Quality of life was considerably poorer in depressed persons than in individuals with some other frequent chronic diseases. This underscores that its assessment can be used in health care decision making and resource allocation. The impact of depression was also found to be related to the seriousness of the episode. Quality of life measurements could be useful to assess the effectiveness of different mood disorder interventions, beyond symptomatology, with focus on individuals' main subjective opinions and concerns.
Zaratiegui
Rodolfo
R
Psinapsys, Centro de investigación y tratamientos en Psicofarmacología Clínica, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. psinapsy@speedy.com.ar
D000328:Adult; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D003710:Demography; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires