The survey on outpatients with depressive disorders in a community health service center of Shanghai

Abstract

Objective To investigate the prevalence of depressive disorders in the outpatients of a community health service center in Shanghai. Methods Eight hundred and forty-seven outpatients were screened with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Of the screened outpatients, the patients with depressive scale score of HADS ≥8 were assessed with the MINI international neuropsychiatric interview (M.I.N.I.) and made the diagnosis of depressive disorder according to the criteria of DSM-IV. Results Eight hundred and thirty-eight outpatients completed the effective investigation, and 295 (35.2%) outpatients had a HADS score ≥ 8. Of the enrolled 838 patients, 16.1% (135/838) met the criteria for depressive disorders with major depressive episode 12.6% (106/838), dysthymia 2.5% (21/838) and bipolar depression 1.0% (8/838). Conclusion The prevalence rates of depressive symptoms and depressive disorders are high in the community health service center that deserved to be paid more attention for recognition, diagnosis and treatment. Key words: Depressive disorder; Outpatient; Community health service; Cross-sectional survey