Depressive disorder at the household level

Prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among household members

Bibliographic Data

ID19531002
AuthorsKondwani Mpinga (0009-0001-9086-3234), Temusa Rukundo (RAND Corporation), Owen Mwale (0009-0000-2212-773X), Myrrah Kamwiyo, Limbani Thengo (0000-0002-5067-9678), Todd Ruderman (0000-0002-6355-1649), Beatrice Matanje (0000-0002-8268-8990), Fabien Munyaneza (0000-0002-8744-2113), Emilia Connolly (0000-0002-1671-3190), Kazione Kulisewa (0000-0002-2979-4495, Kamuzu Central Hospital), Michael Udedi (0000-0001-8769-4313, Ministry of Health), Chiyembekezo Kachimanga (0000-0003-3507-9591), Luckson Dullie (0000-0002-2883-2429), Ryan K McBain (0000-0003-0073-0348, RAND Corporation, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume16
Issue1
Pages2241808-2241808
Publication date2023-12-31
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGlobal Health Action (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1654-9716 • E-ISSN: 1654-9880
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/16549716.2023.2241808
PMID37554074
OpenAlexW4385684748
LanguageEN
References cited48

Background Globally, an estimated five percent of adults have major depressive disorder. However, little is known about the relationship between these individuals’ depressive symptoms and their household members’ mental health and well-being.Objectives We aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of depressive symptoms among adult household members of patients living with major depressive disorder in Neno District, Malawi.Methods As part of a cluster randomized controlled trial providing depression care to adults with major depressive disorder, we conducted surveys with patients’ household members (n = 236) and inquired about their overall health, depressive symptoms, disability, and social support. We calculated prevalence rates of depressive disorder and conducted multivariable linear regression and multivariable logistic regression analyses to assess correlates of depressive symptom severity and predictors of having depressive disorder (PHQ-9), respectively, among household members.Results We observed that roughly one in five household members (19%) screened positive for a depressive disorder (PHQ-9 > 9). More than half of household members endorsed six or more of the nine symptoms, with 68% reporting feeling ‘down, depressed, or hopeless’ in the prior two weeks. Elevated depression symptom severity was associated with greater disability (β = 0.17, p < 0.001), less social support (β = −0.04, p = 0.016), and lower self-reported overall health (β = 0.54, p = 0.001). Having depressive disorder was also associated with greater disability (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 1.12, p = 0.001) and less social support (aOR = 0.97, p = 0.024).Conclusions In the Malawian context, we find that depressive disorder and depression symptoms are shared attributes among household members. This has implications for both screening and treatment, and it suggests that mental health should be approached from the vantage point of the broader social ecology of the household and family unit.Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04777006) - March 2, 2021

Anxiety · Cross-sectional study · Depressive symptoms · Logistic regression · Major depressive disorder · Mental health · Mood · Odds ratio · Patient Health Questionnaire · Psychiatry · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Demography · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Medicine · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Internal Medicine

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