Introduction: By the year 2020, if current trends for demographic and epidemiological transition continue, the burden of depression will have increased to 5.7% of the total burden of disease, thus becoming the second leading cause of disability-adjusted life year (DALY) lost. Early detection of people at risk of developing any mental disorder is extremely important in the prevention of all mental disorders.
Objective: The objective of the study was to determine depression predictors among adult residents in four Kosovo and Metohia municipalities predominantly inhabited by Serbian population.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included the representative sample of adults in Leposavić, North Kosovska Mitrovica, Gnjilane and Priština and was performed in October/November of 2009. The sample was selected from the list of citizens older than 18, received in the above mentioned municipalities. The Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) was used as a research instrument. The methods of statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, simple and multiple logistic regression analysis, and analysis of variance, with a significance level of 0.05.
Results: Problems with depression have been significantly associated with female sex (OR=2.24), older age (OR=1.01), lower levels of education (OR=0.50), unemployment (OR=1.09), poor financial situation (OR=0.45), abuse (OR=0.08) and assessment of the future political and security situation as a highly risky one (OR=3.01).
Conclusion: To determine risk groups being in greater risk to suffer from depression is important for planning, enhancing, promoting and implementing the prevention strategies for this disease.