Abstract
One month prevalence of depression moves in the range between 5 - 7.5%. In patients suffering from physical diseases, the prevalence is much higher.
The life long risk of depression disturbance is 5 - 20%. These data put the depression among the most frequent mental disorders.
Owing to the high prevalence in our population, most patients are in the care of non-psychiatrists, mainly general practitioners. Depression is a severe illness with a high risk of attempted suicides.
When depression is correctly diagnosed and treated, the patients´ condition may be greatly helped.