Is the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing a reliable guide for health planners? A methodological note on the prevalence of depression

Objective: To consider whether the prevalence of depression reported in the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing is a reliable guide for mental health planners. Method: A comparison of methodologies for the detection of depression in the Australian National Survey and a South Australian survey. Results: The Australian National Survey using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) reported considerably less depression than a South Australian survey, which used the mood module of the PRIME-MD 1000 study. Although the PRIME-MD may over-diagnose depression, it is probable that the preclusion criteria of the CIDI result in an under-reporting of depression. Conclusions: It is probable that the Australian National Survey under-estimates the prevalence of depression in the community. This has implications not only in assessing the morbidity and economic burden of depression, but also for the planning of future mental health services.