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International Journal of Social Psychiatry, Vol. 45, No. 3, 180-189 (1999)
DOI: 10.1177/002076409904500305

Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms and Mood Disorders in Primary Care: a Spanish Rural Study

Sergio Ruiz-Doblado

Consultation-Liaison Psychiatric Unit, Osuna County Hospital, Andalusian Health Service, Seville (Spain), Unidad de Psiquiatría de Enlace, Hospital Comarcal Osuna, Avda. Constitución, 2, 41640 Osuna (Sevilla), Espana

Background: 5-10% of primary care patients present a classification diagnosis of Major Depression, 5-10% of Dysthymia and 20% "depressive symptoms only". We tried to obtain the prevalence of depressive symptoms in a Spanish primary care area (11 667 adult inhabitants, Seville). Methods: a randomized sample of 221 people (SE = 0.0025, a = 0.05) was initially examined using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The patients with a BDI > 16 were considered as "cases" and were extensively examined using the "Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry" (SCAN). Results and conclusions: Our prevalence of depressive symptoms was higher than that reported in international studies with similar BDI cutting-scores. Class-linked vulnerability could play an important aetiological role. Prevalences of Major Depression and Dysthymia were similar to other reports using structured diagnostic interviews. The cases were usually lower-class females, and they also presented medium or high psychosocial disability. Depressive symptoms and mood disorders in Primary Care represent an unsolved health care problem today.


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