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Change in depressive symptoms and mental health-related quality of life in northeast Germany between 1997–2001 and 2008–2012

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Public Health

Abstract

Objectives

Little is known about changes in depression and quality of life in East Germany. We examined changes in the prevalence of lifetime and current depressive symptoms and mental health-related quality of life among adults in northeast Germany between 1997–2001 and 2008–2012.

Methods

Population-based data were drawn from two repeated cross-sectional surveys conducted 11 years apart within the Study of Health of Pomerania project (Ns of 4,228 and 4,251). Assessments included screening items for lifetime depressive symptoms from the Munich Composite International Diagnostic Interview (M-CIDI), the Depression and Exhaustion Scale (DEEX), and the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12).

Results

Lifetime depressive symptoms rose from 13.2 to 27.8 %. The increase was stronger in men than in women and in individuals aged 35–64 years. No substantial changes occurred in the overall prevalence of current depressive symptoms (DEEX) and mental health-related quality of life (SF-12). A small decrease in current depressive symptoms was observed in middle-aged men and older women and small improvements in mental health-related quality of life in young adults.

Conclusions

Higher reporting of lifetime depressive symptoms might reflect methodological influences as well as lower stigmatization and higher awareness, while the current burden seems similar.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Community Medicine, Study of Health in Pomerania/Clinical-Epidemiological Research, Walther-Rathenau-Straße 48, 17487, Greifswald, Germany

    Sebastian E. Baumeister, Carsten-Oliver Schmidt, Franz Möckel, Neeltje van den Berg, Wolfgang Hoffmann & Henry Völzke

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany

    Georg Schomerus & Hans J. Grabe

  3. HELIOS Hanseklinikum Stralsund, Stralsund, Germany

    Georg Schomerus & Hans J. Grabe

Authors
  1. Sebastian E. Baumeister
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  2. Georg Schomerus
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  3. Carsten-Oliver Schmidt
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  4. Franz Möckel
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  5. Neeltje van den Berg
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  6. Wolfgang Hoffmann
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  7. Henry Völzke
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  8. Hans J. Grabe
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sebastian E. Baumeister.

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Baumeister, S.E., Schomerus, G., Schmidt, CO. et al. Change in depressive symptoms and mental health-related quality of life in northeast Germany between 1997–2001 and 2008–2012. Int J Public Health 60, 33–39 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-014-0632-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-014-0632-0

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