Magnitude of depression problem among primary care consumers in Saudi Arabia

Background: Depression is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. It is estimated that 5–10% of the population at any given time is suffering from identifiable depression needing psychiatric or psychosocial intervention. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of depression and associated risk factors among adult primary care consumers in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in four primary healthcare (PHC) centers in Al Khobar for screening of adult consumers for depression. The data were collected by interviewing a sample of 850 male and female visitors by using the Arabic version of Patient Health Questionnaire 9. Results: The prevalence of moderate to severe depression among adult PHC consumers was about 16%. Its occurrence was more than double among women than men. The most common manifestations of depression were sleeping and eating problems, while suicidal thoughts were reported by 3.8% of depressed people. The main predictors of depression were female gender, family history of depression or psychiatric diseases, personal history of chronic diseases, especially cardiovascular and skin diseases, and being unemployed or unmarried; the predictors of suicidal ideation were severe depression, female gender, and low level of education. Conclusion: We conclude from this study that about one-sixth of PHC consumers in Saudi Arabia are suffering from moderate to severe depression and its occurrence was more in women than men, illiterate, and unemployed.