Global variation in the prevalence and incidence of major depressive disorder: a systematic review of the epidemiological literature

Ferrari, A. J.; Somerville, A. J.; Baxter, A. J.; Norman, R.; Patten, S. B.; Vos, T.; Whiteford, H. A.

doi:10.1017/s0033291712001511

Cited by 1,230Mental Health Treatment and AccessTreatment of Major DepressionChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Global variation in the prevalence and incidence of major depressive disorder: a systematic review of the epidemiological literature

Ferrari, A. J., Somerville, A. J., Baxter, A. J., Norman, R., Patten, S. B., Vos, T., Whiteford, H. A.·2013·Psychological Medicine

DOI 10.1017/s0033291712001511

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Abstract

Background: Summarizing the epidemiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) at a global level is complicated by significant heterogeneity in the data. The aim of this study is to present a global summary of the prevalence and incidence of MDD, accounting for sources of bias, and dealing with heterogeneity. Findings are informing MDD burden quantification in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2010 Study. Method: A systematic review of prevalence and incidence of MDD was undertaken. Electronic databases Medline, PsycINFO and EMBASE were searched. Community-representative studies adhering to suitable diagnostic nomenclature were included. A meta-regression was conducted to explore sources of heterogeneity in prevalence and guide the stratification of data in a meta-analysis. Results: The literature search identified 116 prevalence and four incidence studies. Prevalence period, sex, year of study, depression subtype, survey instrument, age and region were significant determinants of prevalence, explaining 57.7% of the variability between studies. The global point prevalence of MDD, adjusting for methodological differences, was 4.7% (4.4–5.0%). The pooled annual incidence was 3.0% (2.4–3.8%), clearly at odds with the pooled prevalence estimates and the previously reported average duration of 30 weeks for an episode of MDD. Conclusions: Our findings provide a comprehensive and up-to-date profile of the prevalence of MDD globally. Region and study methodology influenced the prevalence of MDD. This needs to be considered in the GBD 2010 study and in investigations into the ecological determinants of MDD. Good-quality estimates from low-/middle-income countries were sparse. More accurate data on incidence are also required.

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Studies of depression across history and cultures suggest that while several core features of depression are clearly identified across geographies and cultures, there remain significant variations.
“Studies of depression across history and cultures (see Figures 1 and 2) suggest that while several core features of depression are clearly identified across geographies and cultures, there remain significant variations. For instance, the prominence of sadness might not be universal, emotions are expressed in differing ways, and there is overlap between the concepts of social suffering and”
From Time for united action on depression: a Lancet–World Psychiatric Association Commission (2022) · cites this paper as [102]

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Authors: Ferrari, A. J., Somerville, A. J., Baxter, A. J., Norman, R., Patten, S. B., Vos, T., & Whiteford, H. A.
Affiliations: The University of Queensland (AU)
University of Calgary (CA)
Corresponding author: Ferrari, A. J.
ORCID: Ferrari, A. J.
Baxter, A. J.
Patten, S. B.
Vos, T.
Whiteford, H. A.
Venue: Psychological Medicine
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published: 2012-07-25
Volume: 43
Issue: 3
Pages: 471-481
ISSN: 0033-2917 (ISSN-L)
1469-8978
DOI: 10.1017/s0033291712001511
OpenAlex: W1488179480
Cited by: 1,230
References: 17
Citations by year: 2026: 46 · 2025: 79 · 2024: 133 · 2023: 119 · 2022: 165 · 2021: 132 · 2020: 109 · 2019: 117 · 2018: 90 · 2017: 69 · 2016: 63 · 2015: 42 · 2014: 43 · 2013: 22
FWCI: 4.77
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified)
Locations: Psychological Medicine (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
QUT ePrints (Queensland University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
Faculty of Health; Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation
Funders: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation
University of Queensland
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords: major depressive disorder, prevalence, incidence, global burden of disease, heterogeneity of prevalence estimates, meta-regression, low- and middle-income countries, depressive episode duration
MeSH terms: Major Depressive Disorder, Humans, Global Health, Models, Statistical, Bias, Incidence, Prevalence, Epidemiologic Studies, Age Distribution, Sex Distribution

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Global variation in the prevalence and incidence of major depressive disorder: a systematic review of the epidemiological literature

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