title: Prevalence of common mental disorders in general practice attendees across Europe.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is evidence that the prevalence of common mental disorders varies across Europe.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare prevalence of common mental disorders in general practice attendees in six European countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Unselected attendees to general practices in the UK, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia, Estonia and The Netherlands were assessed for major depression, panic syndrome and other anxiety syndrome. Prevalence of DSM-IV major depression, other anxiety syndrome and panic syndrome was compared between the UK and other countries after taking account of differences in demographic factors and practice consultation rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence was estimated in 2,344 men and 4,865 women. The highest prevalence for all disorders occurred in the UK and Spain, and lowest in Slovenia and The Netherlands. Men aged 30-50 and women aged 18-30 had the highest prevalence of major depression; men aged 40-60 had the highest prevalence of anxiety, and men and women aged 40-50 had the highest prevalence of panic syndrome. Demographic factors accounted for the variance between the UK and Spain but otherwise had little impact on the significance of observed country differences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results add to the evidence for real differences between European countries in prevalence of psychological disorders and show that the burden of care on general practitioners varies markedly between countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health Sciences, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, UK. m.king@medsch.ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Irwin
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nazareth
authors.forename: Gus
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weich
authors.forename: Juan Angel
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bellón-Saameño
authors.forename: Berta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Svab
authors.forename: Danica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rotar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rifel
authors.forename: Heidi-Ingrid
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Maaroos
authors.forename: Anu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aluoja
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kalda
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neeleman
authors.forename: Mirjam I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Geerlings
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xavier
authors.forename: Manuel Caldas
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Torres-Gonzalez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003710:Demography; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data