Evaluate Factors Influencing Depression in Baghdad: Using Deck-Depression Inventory

Sahar B Aljuboori; Al-Jumaili Ali Azeez; Ammar A Razzak Mahmood; Rawaa Fathel; Haneen Talab

doi:10.24926/iip.v10i3.2036

Evaluate Factors Influencing Depression in Baghdad: Using Deck-Depression Inventory

Innov Pharm. 2019 Jul 22;10(3):10.24926/iip.v10i3.2036. doi: 10.24926/iip.v10i3.2036. eCollection 2019.

Authors

Sahar B Aljuboori¹, Al-Jumaili Ali Azeez², Ammar A Razzak Mahmood³, Rawaa Fathel¹, Haneen Talab¹

Affiliations

¹ Al-Rafidain University College of Department of Pharmacy, Baghdad, Iraq.
² University of Baghdad College of Pharmacy Baghdad, Iraq and the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
³ University of Baghdad College of Pharmacy, Baghdad, Iraq.

Abstract

Objective: This study goal was to screen participants from different settings in Baghdad for depression using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scale and identify factors influencing the levels of depression.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included a convenience sample of 313 people from four settings (teaching hospital, college of medicine, college of pharmacy, and high school) in Baghdad, Iraq. The participants were screened using paper survey relying on the BDI scale during spring 2018. Using multiple linear regression analysis, we measured the association between depression scores and six participant factors.

Results: The overall prevalence of depression in our sample was 57.2%. Female participants had higher BDI scores (depression symptoms) than male participants. Among those with depression, the majority (73.7%) had mild or moderate degree of depression. In terms of the cut-off scores, 42.8 % scored in the normal range, 20.4 % in the mild range, 7.0 % in the borderline range, 14.7 % in the moderate range, 10.5 % in the severe range and 4.5 % in the very severe range depression.Approximately 63% of the participants had sort of suicidal thoughts. The regression analysis showed significant (P-value < 0.05) association between having higher scores of depression symptoms and the presence of chronic disease(s), recent family loss, young age and female gender.

Conclusions: In our findings, depression was quite prevalent among people in Iraq. The study demonstrates the importance of broad screening and social/psychiatric counseling of young population.Iraqi healthcare professionals should structure specific actions for patients with chronic diseases to minimize their depression symptoms.