Medicus, Vol. 13 No. 1_Depresija, 2004.
Review article
Public Health Importance of Depressive Disorders
Vlasta Hrabak-Žerjavić
Maja Silobrčić Radić
Vera Folnegović-Šmalc
Ninoslav Mimica
Abstract
Depressive disorders are among the most
frequently reported mental disorders with the current prevalence
of 5 to 10%, lifetime prevalence of up to 18%, and lifetime
risk of 20 to 30%. According to the Global Burden of Disease
Study for 96 most frequent diseases, based on DALYs
for all ages, unipolar depressive disorder ranks fourth and it
is anticipated to rank second in 2020. Based on YLDs (Years
Lived with Disability), unipolar depressive disorder, with
11.9%, is the most frequent cause of disability. In 2002,
Croatia recorded 3 755 hospitalizations and 136 272 days
of hospital treatment due to depressive disorders. Consequently,
depressive disorders rank third in the group of mental
disorders by the number and duration of hospitalization
and they account for 9.7 and 7.6%, respectively. In the period
from 1995 to 2002, both the total hospitalization number
and rate and the hospitalization number and rate by gender
showed an increasing trend with some oscillations. The hospitalization
rate in 1995, 1996, 1999 and 2002 was 54.6,
88.1, 75.7, 89.4 and 84.6/100 000, respectively. The number
of hospitalizations of women was higher than that of men
(1.4-2.5:1). The hospitalization rate for both genders was the
highest in the age group of 40 to 59. Depressive disorders
represent one of public health priorities. Based on projections,
the programs for mental health protection should be
intensified.
Keywords
depressive disorders; burden of disease
Hrčak ID:
19801
URI
Publication date:
26.1.2004.
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