Major depression and secondhand smoke exposure.

Background: Epidemiological studies have consistently linked smoking to poor mental health. Among non-smokers, some studies have also reported associations between secondhand smoke exposure and psychological symptoms. However, an association between secondhand smoke exposure and depressive disorders has not been well established.

The depression and marital status relationship is modified by both age and gender.

Background: Marital status is associated with major depression prevalence, however, the strength of association may be modified by age and gender.

Methods: The data sources were a series of cross sectional national health surveys of the Canadian population carried out by Statistics Canada during 1996-2013. These were cross-sectional files from the National Population Health Survey of 1996, together with the Canadian Community Health Surveys from 2000 to 2013; the respondents were 18 years and older.

Major depression and non-specific distress following smoking cessation in the Canadian general population.

Background: Outcome data from smoking cessation trials indicate that improvement in mental health occurs after smoking cessation. This suggests that smoking cessation should be a priority for mental health services. However, participants in such trials may not be representative of the general population.

A comparison of recommendations and received treatment for mood and anxiety disorders in a representative national sample.

Background: The exact nature of treatment and management recommendations made, and received, for mood and anxiety disorders in a community population is unclear. In addition, there is limited evidence on the impact of recommendations on actual receipt of treatment or implementation of management strategies. We aim to describe the frequency with which specific recommendations were made and implemented; and thus assess the size of any gap between the recommendation and implementation of treatments and management strategies.

Trends in binge drinking in Canada from 1996 to 2013: a repeated cross-sectional analysis.

Background: Heavy drinking is a major factor in morbidity and mortality worldwide. Little information is available on trends in Canada regarding alcohol abuse. We sought to estimate abstinence, binge drinking and alcohol intake exceeding low-risk drinking guidelines in the Canadian population from 1996 to 2013.

Is the prevalence of major depression increasing in the Canadian adolescent population? Assessing trends from 2000 to 2014.

Background: Major depressive disorder is a relatively common diagnosis with onset across the lifespan. There is a recent belief that major depressive episodes (MDE) are increasing in adolescence; however, it is not clear if this is truly an increase in prevalence or reflective of other causes such as change in diagnostic patterns. This study aimed to determine whether evidence supports an epidemic of MDE in Canadian adolescents.

Major Depression Prevalence Increases with Latitude in Canada.

Objective: To determine whether there is an association between latitude and annual major depressive episode (MDE) prevalence in Canada.

Methods: Data from 2 national survey programs (the National Population Health Survey and the Canadian Community Health Survey) were used, providing 10 data sets collected between 1996 and 2013, together including 922,260 respondents, of whom 495,739 were assessed for MDE using 1 of 2 versions of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, a short-form version (8 studies), and a Canadian adaptation of the World Mental Health version (2 studies). Approximate latitude was determined by linkage to postal code data.

The Prevalence of Major Depressive Episodes Is Higher in Urban Regions of Canada.

Objective: Major depressive disorder is an important contributor to disease burden. Anticipation of service needs is important, yet basic information is lacking. For example, there is no consensus as to whether major depressive episodes (MDE) are more or less prevalent in urban or rural areas.

Descriptive Epidemiology of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Canada.

Objective: The first national survey to assess the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in Canada was the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey: Mental Health and Well-Being (CCHS-MH). The World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WMH-CIDI), used within the representative sample of the CCHS-MH, provides the best available description of the epidemiology of this condition in Canada. This study uses the CCHS-MH data to describe the epidemiology of GAD.

Perceived Stigma among Recipients of Mental Health Care in the General Canadian Population.

Objectives: The Mental Health Experiences Scale is a measure of perceived stigma, the perception of negative attitudes and behaviours by people with mental disorders. A recent Canadian survey (Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health) included this scale, providing an opportunity to describe perceived stigma in relation to diagnosis for the first time in the Canadian general population.

Methods: The survey interview began with an assessment of whether respondents had utilised services for an "emotional or mental health problem" in the preceding 12 months.

Major Depression in Canada: What Has Changed over the Past 10 Years?

Objective: Major depressive episodes (MDE) make an important contribution to disease burden in Canada. The epidemiology of MDE in the national population has been examined in 2 mental health surveys, one conducted in 2002 and the other in 2012. Our objective was to compare selected variables from the 2 surveys to determine whether changes have occurred in the prevalence, treatment, and impact of MDE.

The association between major depression prevalence and sex becomes weaker with age.

Background: Women have a higher prevalence of major depressive episodes (MDE) than men, and the annual prevalence of MDE declines with age. Age by sex interactions may occur (a weakening of the sex effect with age), but are easily overlooked since individual studies lack statistical power to detect interactions. The objective of this study was to evaluate age by sex interactions in MDE prevalence.

Why is major depression prevalence not changing?

Background: Increasing provision of treatment should theoretically lead to a decreased burden of major depressive episodes (MDE) in the population. However, there is no evidence yet that this has occurred. Among possible explanations are that: (1) treatment may not be sufficiently accessible, effective or effectively delivered to make a difference at the population level or (2) treatment benefits such as diminished episode duration may be offset by other trends such as increasing episode incidence, or vice versa.

Depression--a common disorder across a broad spectrum of neurological conditions: a cross-sectional nationally representative survey.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of depression across a range of neurological conditions in a nationally representative sample.

Methods: The data source was the Survey of Living with Neurological Conditions in Canada (SLNCC), which accrued its sample by selecting participants from the Canadian Community Health Survey. The point prevalence of depression was estimated by assessment of depressive symptoms with the Patient Health Questionnaire, Brief (Patient Health Questionnaire, 9-item).

Prevalence of Bipolar I and II Disorder in Canada.

Objective: Current epidemiologic knowledge about bipolar disorder (BD) in Canada is inadequate. To date, only 3 prevalence studies have been conducted: only 1 was based on a national sample, and none distinguished between BD I and II. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of BD I and II in Canada in 2012.

The prevalence of major depression is not changing.

Objective: To evaluate trends in the prevalence of major depressive episodes (MDEs) in Canada during the past 2 decades using data collected in a series of national surveys.

Method: MDE prevalence has been assessed in national surveys that either used a short form version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short Form for Major Depression (CIDI-SFMD) or an adaptation of the World Health Organization's (full-length) version, World Mental Health (WMH) CIDI. We applied meta-regression methods to adjust for instrument type while also addressing design effects in the individual data sets.

Descriptive epidemiology of major depressive disorder in Canada in 2012.

Objective: The epidemiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) was first described in the Canadian national population in 2002. Updated information is now available from a 2012 survey: the Canadian Community Health Study-Mental Health (CCHS-MH).

Method: The CCHS-MH employed an adaptation of the World Health Organization World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview and had a sample of n=25 113.

Antidepressant use in Canada has stopped increasing.

Objective: Large increases in the use of antidepressants (ADs) were reported in the past 2 decades in many countries, including Canada. Our objective was to determine whether this pattern of increasing use has continued, using data from a 2012 national mental health survey.

Method: During the past 2 decades, a series of Canadian national health surveys have evaluated AD use in the household population.

Changing perceptions of mental health in Canada.

Objective: Epidemiologic studies typically assess mental health using diagnostic measures or symptom severity measures. However, perceptions are also important. The objective of our study was to evaluate trends in perceived mental health in Canada during the past 20 years using data collected in a series of surveys.

Depression as a predictor of occupational transition in a multiple sclerosis cohort.

In MS, transitions between working and not-working status may occur in association with depression. This can complicate patients' ability to promptly obtain disability support due to an expectation that their functioning will improve after the depression resolves, a viewpoint that sees depression assuming a role as a causal determinant of disability. In this study, prospective data were used to model the relationship between depressive symptoms and the transition out of employment.

Point prevalence and correlates of depression in a national community sample with multiple sclerosis.

Objective: The prevalence of depression in multiple sclerosis (MS) is known to be elevated, but nearly all available studies have estimated period prevalence. The objective of this study was to estimate the point prevalence of depression in a representative community sample using the Patient Health Questionnaire, Brief (PHQ-9).

Methods: The data source for this study was the Survey of Living with Neurological Conditions in Canada, which was derived from a representative sample of household residents.

Depression and painful conditions: patterns of association with health status and health utility ratings in the general population.

Purpose: Preference-weighted HRQoL (utility) ratings are increasingly used to guide clinical and resource allocation decisions, but their performance has not always been adequately explored. We sought to examine patterns of health utility ratings in community populations with depressive disorders and painful conditions.

Methods: We used two Canadian cross-sectional health surveys that obtained Comprehensive Health Status Measurement System/Health Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI3) ratings and identified people with painful conditions and major depression.

Recreational physical activity ameliorates some of the negative impact of major depression on health-related quality of life.

Background: Major depressive episodes have a negative effect on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The objective of this study was to determine whether recreational physical activity can ameliorate some of this negative impact.

Methods: The data source for the study was the Canadian National Population Health Survey (NPHS).

Disability in a community population with MS with and without mental disorders.

Objective: Psychiatric conditions are known to have a detrimental impact on functioning and may therefore influence patterns of disability associated with MS. Population-based studies are needed to evaluate such interactions. The objective of this study was to describe the pattern of interaction of MS and mental disorders on health-related impairments.