SynthesisBMJ mental health2023
Prevalence estimates of major depressive disorder in 27 European countries from the European Health Interview Survey: accounting for imperfect diagnostic accuracy of the PHQ-8.
Synthesis in BMJ mental health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers.
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Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed.
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- Socioeconomic inequalities and health behaviours in depression: a picture of mental health in Portugal.European journal of public health · 2026Article
- Tools used to estimate the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder in populations: a scoping review.Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences · 2026Article
- Using difficulty in going out and social participation to assess for risk of hikikomori: nationally representative data from the European health interview survey.Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology · 2025Article
- [Associations of sleep duration with mental health and alcohol use among Korean adults: a secondary analysis of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2018·2020)].Journal of Korean biological nursing science · 2025Article
- Real-World Evidence of Neuropsychiatric Adverse Reactions to Isotretinoin: Insights from EudraVigilance (2005-2025).Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Mental Health and Satisfaction With Life in First-Year College Students: Results From a Cross-Sectional Study in Vietnam.Psychiatry investigation · 2025Article
- Cross-Sectional Reference Data From 29 European Countries for 6 Frequently Used Depression Measures.JAMA network open · 2025Article
- Prevalence Estimation Using a Depression Screening Tool in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey: Comparison of Different Cutoffs.International journal of methods in psychiatric research · 2025Article
- Self-Medication in Individuals With Depression and Symptoms of Depression in the European Union: Prevalence and Associated Factors.Depression and anxiety · 2025Article
- Clinical characterization and management of persons with comorbid epilepsy and depression: an expert opinion paper.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2025Review
- Mechanisms Involved in the Link between Depression, Antidepressant Treatment, and Associated Weight Change.International journal of molecular sciences · 2024Review
- Anxiety and depression played a central role in the COVID-19 mental distress: A network analysis.Journal of affective disorders · 2023Article
- Correspondence on population health surveys and screening tools for depressive disorders: aims and uses by Arias de la TorreBMJ mental health · 2023Article
- Population health surveys and screening tools for depressive disorders: aims and uses.BMJ mental health · 2023Article
- Lessons learned from applying established cut-off values of questionnaires to detect somatic symptom disorders in primary care: a cross-sectional study.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2023Article
- Article
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8 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundCut-offs on self-report depression screening tools are designed to identify many more people than those who meet criteria for major depressive disorder. In a recent analysis of the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS), the percentage of participants with Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) scores ≥10 was reported as major depression prevalence.
objectiveWe used a Bayesian framework to re-analyse EHIS PHQ-8 data, accounting for the imperfect diagnostic accuracy of the PHQ-8.
methodsThe EHIS is a cross-sectional, population-based survey in 27 countries across Europe with 258 888 participants from the general population. We incorporated evidence from a comprehensive individual participant data meta-analysis on the accuracy of the PHQ-8 cut-off of ≥10. We evaluated the joint posterior distribution to estimate the major depression prevalence, prevalence differences between countries and compared with previous EHIS results.
findingsOverall, major depression prevalence was 2.1% (95% credible interval (CrI) 1.0% to 3.8%). Mean posterior prevalence estimates ranged from 0.6% (0.0% to 1.9%) in the Czech Republic to 4.2% (0.2% to 11.3%) in Iceland. Accounting for the imperfect diagnostic accuracy resulted in insufficient power to establish prevalence differences. 76.4% (38.0% to 96.0%) of observed positive tests were estimated to be false positives. Prevalence was lower than the 6.4% (95% CI 6.2% to 6.5%) estimated previously.
conclusionsPrevalence estimation needs to account for imperfect diagnostic accuracy. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Major depression prevalence in European countries is likely lower than previously reported on the basis of the EHIS survey.
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