Research paperThe 12-month prevalence of depression and health care utilization in the general population of Latvia

- First study to determine the 12-months prevalence of major and minor depression
- The 12-months prevalence of depression is in line with other European countries
- Absence of gender difference in the prevalence of major or minor depression
- Certain factors related with major and minor depression have been found
- Cross-sectional nature of the study

BackgroundThis cross-sectional study aims to assess the 12-month prevalence of major and minor depression in the Latvian population, and to evaluate associated health care utilization.MethodsTrained interviewers conducted face-to-face interviews with a multistage stratified probability sample of the Latvian general population, ages 15-64 (n=3003). Participants were interviewed using the depression module of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Self-reported health care utilization and somatic illness were also assessed. Multinomial logistic regressions were applied.ResultsThe 12-month prevalence of major depression was 7.9% (95%CI 7.0-8.9), while for minor depression it was 7.7% (95%CI 6.8-8.7). We did not find a substantial difference in the relative risk ratio (RRR 1.7 for female) for having major depression by gender. RRR of having major depression was higher for those who had used healthcare services six or more times (RRR 2.0), those who had three or more somatic disorders during the past 12 months (RRR 2.3), those who perceived their health status as being below average (RRR 8.3), and those who were occasional smokers (RRR 3.0). RRR of having minor depression was increased for those who had at least three somatic disorders (RRR 2.3), those who received disability pension (RRR 1.9), and those who perceived their health status to be below average (RRR 3.0).LimitationsThe study was cross-sectional. Other psychiatric comorbidity was not assessed.ConclusionsThis is the first population based study reporting the 12-month prevalence of depression in Latvia. Certain factors associated with depression have been found.