title: Depression and economic hardship across Greece in 2008 and 2009: two cross-sectional surveys nationwide.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In many western countries during the recent years, people have witnessed the deterioration of their economies and the emergence of related phenomena such as loss of property, unemployment and social disruption. These phenomena have also been associated with increasing levels of demoralization and the developing of major depressive episodes (MDE). Greece in the years 2008 and mainly in 2009 started facing a sharp economic decline. The purpose of this study was to explore the consequences of this condition and the ways are reflected in the prevalence of MDE during these two critical years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two nationwide cross-sectional telephone surveys were carried out in 2008 and 2009 with representative samples of 2,197 and 2,192 respondents, respectively. The interview comprised the SCID I module of MDE and an Index of Personal Economic Distress (IPED).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 1-month prevalence of MDE in 2009 was found to be 6.8%, compared to corresponding rates of 3.3% in 2008. Respondents facing serious economic hardship (with higher scores in IPED) were mostly at risk for developing an MDE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of both studies underline the significance of the risk involved in developing MDE when individuals have been exposed in extreme and stressful economic situations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. madianos@nurs.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Madianos
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Economou
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alexiou
authors.forename: Costas
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stefanis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult