Background: Epidemiologist, national and international agencies have been sounding an alarm on rapidly rising burden of depression for past many years. According to WHO, in young people neuropsychiatric disorders are the leading causes of worldwide disability and second leading cause of death in 15 - 29 years.

Materials and Methods: Ninety four patients with depression were studied in the Department of Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, JA Group of hospitals and GR Medical college, Gwalior during the period from March 2012 to November 2013. Detailed clinical and demographic parameters including age, sex, residence type, education status and marital status were recorded. Patients of depression were assessed for the severity of depression according to Beck’s Depression inventory (BDI) and were labeled as having mild, borderline, moderate, severe and extreme depression.

Results: Depression was more prevalent among males (54.2 %) belonging to the age group of 15-25 years (30.8%) followed by 36-45 years (24.4%). Majority of the patients were male (54.3%). Majority of the depressive patients were literate (n=84). Prevalence of depression was more in the urban setting (36 males and 27 female). Majority of the male (n=32) and females (n=43) were married. Of all the 94 patients, 30 were smokers and alcoholism was reported by 16 patients. As per the BDI classification, 25.5% of the patients were mildly depressed, 24.5% were borderline clinically depressed, 41.5% were moderately depressed and 8.5% of them were found to be severely depressed.

Conclusion: Depression was more prevalent in young age group males with high educational qualification, belonged to urban area, smokers and were married.

Keywords: Beck’s Depression inventory, severely depressed, preventions, psychiatry.

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Dr Pradeep Prajapati

Department of Medicine, G.R. Medical College, Gwalior, MP, India

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