Main Features of Prevalence and Severity of Major Depressive Episode in Romania

The objectives of the current article are to present some nationally representative estimates of lifetime, 12-months prevalence of MDE the age of onset, years in episode, the effects of MDE on role impairment. The lifetime prevalence of MDE was 3.3% for "all ages", with higher values for females than for males (4.1% versus 2.5%) and the prevalence estimates of CIDI/DSM-IV 12-months Major Depressive Episode (MDE) was 1.8% (2.2% for females and 1.4% for males). Approximately half of those with lifetime prevalence MDE presented 12-months MDE too (53.8%). Within the age groups "18-34", "all ages" and "50-64", the females have the mean onset of MDE earlier than males (a slight difference for the first two situations, a difference of about 8 years for the latter). Within the age groups "35-49" of "65 years and over", the males have the onset of MDE earlier than the females with 3-4 years. Regarding the mean number of years in episode, for all subjects was found a value of 5.7 years. Symptom severity assessed with the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self Report (QIDS-SR), revealed that almost two thirds of cases with MDE were "severe" or "very severe" from clinical point of view. Number of weeks depressed in the 365 days before the interview, expressed as mean was 30.8 for those with "severe" symptoms/domain. In the past 30 days, the highest WHODAS score was for out of role domain (36.2), then for mobility (14.6). Regarding the number of days out of role in the last year due to depression, this was 82.1 for the age group "50-64" and 63.5 for those of "65 years old and over". Major Depression Episode is a seriously impairment condition. The severe consequences of the depression on functioning in labour and social areas call attention to the need for early diagnostic, proper treatment and intervention.