title: Symptoms of depression among adults in rural areas of western Poland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure the intensity of depressive symptoms in the populations residing in rural areas of western Poland, and to delineate the putative association between the intensity of depression and selected socio-demographic and clinical factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study covered 445 adults recruited from one family physician practice in the rural area of Wielkopolska region. The following tools were applied: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the WHO WHOQoL-Bref quality of life assessment scale, and a socio-demographic and clinical questionnaire elaborated by the authors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Depressive symptoms were observed in approx. 30% of the patients. The intensity of symptoms correlated with age, female gender, and inversely correlated with the quality of life. There was no association between depressive symptoms and level of education (counted as years of education), number of somatic illnesses, and family burden of psychiatric disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Symptoms of depression were noted in approx. 30% of patients who consulted their family physician. The Beck questionnaire is a simple tool whose application could decidedly improve the recognition of depression. It is worth taking note of factors that may be connected with the intensity of depressive symptoms - gender, the number of diagnosed somatic illnesses, and the quantity of drugs administered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Psychiatry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Łojko
authors.affiliation: Family Physician Practice AR-MED, Sokolniki, Poland.
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Czajkowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Psychiatry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suwalska
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Psychiatry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Wiktor
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pałys
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Nursing, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Krystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jaracz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Nursing, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Krystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Górna
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Nursing, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pniewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Nursing, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gołębiewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Nursing, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Urszula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Psychiatry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rybakowski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult