Global burden of depressive disorders in the year 2000

Background: The initial Global Burden of Disease study found that depression was the fourth leading cause of disease burden, accounting for 3.7% of total disability adjusted life years (DALYs) in the world in 1990. Aims: To present the new estimates of depression burden for the year 2000. Method: DALYs for depressive disorders in each world region were calculated, based on new estimates of mortality prevalence, incidence, average age at onset, duration and disability severity. Results: Depression is the fourth leading cause of disease burden, accounting for 4.4% of total DALYs in the year 2000, and it causes the largest amount of non-fatal burden, accounting for almost 12% of all total years lived with disability worldwide. Conclusions: These data on the burden of depression worldwide represent a major public health problem that affects patients and society. Declaration of interest: None.