Major depression and its associated morbidity and quality of life in a random, representative Australian community sample

Objective: The objective of this study is to describe health services utili sation and morbidity, including health-related quality of life, in those wi th major depression in a random and representative sample of the population . Method: Data were gathered in a Health Omnibus Survey of the South Australi an population. Major depression was delineated on the basis of responses to the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders, Information about use of health services and absence from usual functioning was collated, and two me asures of health-related quality of life, the Short-form Health Status Ques tionnaire and the Assessment of Quality of Life were also administered. Res ults of those with major depression were compared with those who had other depressive syndromes and those who had no depression. Results: Those with major depression reported significantly greater use of all health services and poorer functioning in terms of carrying out their n ormal duties. Similarly, their health-related quality of life was significa ntly poorer than those with other depressive syndromes, which in turn was s ignificantly poorer than those who were not depressed. Only one-fifth of th ose with major depression were currently taking antidepressants. Conclusions: These results are consistent with international studies. In ad dition to the potential for alleviating the depressive symptomatology of in dividuals, it is evident that even a modest improvement in functioning with appropriate treatment would have the potential to benefit the Australian c ommunity by one billion dollars a year.