The aim of the study was to determine one year prevalance of major depressive disorder according to DSM- IV-TR and define the sociodemographic and socioeconomic risks in a community based sample.

Nine counties and 302 neighboorhoods in Izmir - which is the third big city of Turkey - were selected using a multi- clustered sampling method. the households were visited between November 2007 and October 2008. In each household a randomly selected person between the ages of 15-64 was interviewed. Composite International Diagnostic Interview 2.1 was used as the main screening tool. The prevalence of major depressive disorder according to DSM-IV, systematic screening questions of the people interviewed had depressive symptoms (CIDI 2.1 E1- E26) was based on their responses. Determining the number of prevalence of symptoms (at least five), time (at least two weeks, almost every day and all day long), intensity (significant loss of functioning) and features (mixed episodes, medical illness, substance use, and are not accompanied by grief) criteria.

A total 4,011 people were interviewed. One-year prevalence of major depressive disorder according to the DSM- IV-TR was 8.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 7.3-9.1). Prevalence estimates of both women and men, respectively were, 10.9% (95% CI = 9.3-12.3) and 4.4% (95% CI = 3.4-5.4. Depressive disorder possibility was significantly 2.7 times higher for women (95% CI = 2.1-3.5), 1.2 times higher for lower socioeconomic status (95% CI = 1.6-2.2),1.7 times higher for uninsured, (95% CI = 1.3-2.3), and 2.9 times higher for unemployed (95% CI = 1.9-4.5).

The clinical significance of the extent of the depressive disorder is very high and leads to impairment of functioning. One in every 12 people in the general population in the last year was suffering from major depressive disorder. and within a year, the ratio is even higher for women in every nine women living in the depressive disorder. Especially socio-economic difficulties exacerbated the possibility of depression.