@article{ref1,
title="Why is major depression prevalence not changing?",
journal="Journal of affective disorders",
year="2015",
author="Patten, Scott B. and Williams, Jeanne V. A. and Lavorato, Dina H. and Bulloch, Andrew G. M. and Wiens, Kathryn and Wang, Jianli",
volume="190",
number="",
pages="93-97",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Increasing provision of treatment should theoretically lead to a decreased burden of major depressive episodes (MDE) in the population. However, there is no evidence yet that this has occurred. Among possible explanations are that: (1) treatment may not be sufficiently accessible, effective or effectively delivered to make a difference at the population level or (2) treatment benefits such as diminished episode duration may be offset by other trends such as increasing episode incidence, or vice versa. <br><br>METHODS: MDE prevalence has been assessed in a series of national surveys and in a single national longitudinal study in Canada. These studies included a short form version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview module for major depression. Indicators of incidence and episode duration of MDE were estimated. Meta-regression methods were used to examine trends over time. <br><br>RESULTS: No evidence of increasing incidence nor of diminishing duration of MDE was found. The analysis failed to uncover evidence that the epidemiology of this condition has been changing. LIMITATIONS: Most studies included in this analysis used an abbreviated interview for MDE which may lack sensitivity and/or specificity. These studies could not address potential benefits of treatment on prevention of suicide. Some potentially offsetting effects could not be assessed, e.g. economic or societal changes. <br><br>CONCLUSION: These results suggest that more effective efforts to prevent MDE, or to improve the volume or quality of treatment, are necessary to reduced burden of MDE in the population.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0165-0327",
doi="10.1016/j.jad.2015.09.002",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.09.002"
}