Prevalence of common mental disorders in general practiceattendees across Europe

• Published in: British journal of psychiatry 2008-05, Vol.192 (5), p.362-367
• Main Authors: King, Michael, Nazareth Irwin, Levy, Gus, Walker, Carl, Morris, Richard, Weich, Scott, Bellón-Saameño, Juan Ángel, Moreno, Berta, Švab Igor, Rotar Danica, Rifel, J, Heidi-Ingrid, Maaroos, Aluoja Anu, Kalda, Ruth, Neeleman, Jan, Geerlings, Mirjam I, Xavier, Miguel, de Almeida Manuel Caldas, Correa, Bernardo, Torres-Gonzalez, Francisco
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anxiety; Demography; Ethnicity; Family physicians; Gender differences; Medical research; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Panic attacks; Prevalence; Primary care; Psychiatry; Women
• ISSN: 0007-1250; 1472-1465
• DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.107.039966

BackgroundThere is evidence that the prevalence of common mental disorders variesacross Europe.AimsTo compare prevalence of common mental disorders in general practiceattendees in six European countries.MethodUnselected attendees to general practices in the UK, Spain, Portugal,Slovenia, Estonia and The Netherlands were assessed for major depression,panic syndrome and other anxiety syndrome. Prevalence of DSM–IV majordepression, other anxiety syndrome and panic syndrome was comparedbetween the UK and other countries after taking account of differences indemographic factors and practice consultation rates.ResultsPrevalence was estimated in 2344 men and 4865 women. The highestprevalence for all disorders occurred in the UK and Spain, and lowest inSlovenia and The Netherlands. Men aged 30–50 and women aged 18–30 had thehighest prevalence of major depression; men aged 40–60 had the highestprevalence of anxiety, and men and women aged 40–50 had the highestprevalence of panic syndrome. Demographic factors accounted for thevariance between the UK and Spain but otherwise had little impact on thesignificance of observed country differences.ConclusionsThese results add to the evidence for real differences between Europeancountries in prevalence of psychological disorders and show that theburden of care on general practitioners varies markedly betweencountries.