Change in depressive symptoms and mental health-related quality of life in northeast Germany between 1997-2001 and 2008-2012

Little is known about changes in depression and quality of life in East Germany. We examined changes in the prevalence of lifetime and current depressive symptoms and mental health-related quality of life among adults in northeast Germany between 1997-2001 and 2008-2012. Population-based data were drawn from two repeated cross-sectional surveys conducted 11 years apart within the Study of Health of Pomerania project (Ns of 4,228 and 4,251). Assessments included screening items for lifetime depressive symptoms from the Munich Composite International Diagnostic Interview (M-CIDI), the Depression and Exhaustion Scale (DEEX), and the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Lifetime depressive symptoms rose from 13.2 to 27.8 %. The increase was stronger in men than in women and in individuals aged 35-64 years. No substantial changes occurred in the overall prevalence of current depressive symptoms (DEEX) and mental health-related quality of life (SF-12). A small decrease in current depressive symptoms was observed in middle-aged men and older women and small improvements in mental health-related quality of life in young adults. Higher reporting of lifetime depressive symptoms might reflect methodological influences as well as lower stigmatization and higher awareness, while the current burden seems similar.