title: Depressive disorder in patients attending the outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in Colombo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lifetime prevalence of depression varies across countries and different populations. Depression is a common comorbidity of physical illness. Patients with depression are known to present with somatic symptoms. Depression is under-diagnosed in primary care settings. Objectives To estimate the prevalence of depression in patients attending the outpatient department (OPD) of a tertiary care hospital in the Western Province of Sri Lanka.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the OPD of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL). Sample size was 205. Every fifth patient aged between 18 and 60 years who attended the OPD was recruited until the required number was met. Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to identify depression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 114 (55.6%) females. Mean age was 50 years (SD 13.68).Overall prevalence of depression in the sample was 22.4% (95% CI 16.68-28.20). Prevalence of depression was higher among females 25.4% (95% CI 17.32-33.56) than in males 18.7% (95% CI 10.52- 26.84). Prevalence of severe depression was 15.1% (95% CI 10.18-20.07). Adjusted odds ratios showed that pain related presenting complaints were significantly associated with depression [adjusted OR 1.99 (95% CI 1.01-3.96)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of depression in outpatients is similar to that reported in other parts of the world. None of the patients with depression presented seeking help for depressive symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo,Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Anandakumar
authors.affiliation: University Psychiatry Unit, National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka. suhashini_sri@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ratnatunga
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dayabandara
authors.forename: Raveen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hanwella
authors.forename: Varuni A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: de Silva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology