Sociodemographic determinants of quality of life among patients with major depressive disorders

Abstract

Background: Improving Quality of Life (QOL) is the ultimate goal of treatment for patients with depression. A large store of studies have shown that depression affects the overall quality of life of patients due to its negative impact on mood, energy and pleasure. Though the effects of depression is well documented, evidence also revealed that sociodemographic variables such as age, gender, education, income etc. may also predict quality of life. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of sociodemographic factors on the quality of life depressed patients and also to assess the predictors of patients' subjective QOL.

The aim of this study is to determine the impact of sociodemographic factors on the quality of life of depressed patients, and also to determine the predictors of patients' subjective QOL.

Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study of depressed outpatients over a period of 6 months. Sociodemographic variables was obtained using a self-reported questionnaire designed by the researchers. Diagnosis of depression as well as severity of depression were assessed with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview questionnaire and Hamilton Rating Scale for depression respectively. Quality of life measures was assessed with the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOLBREF). One hundred patients were recruited for the study.

Results: As many as 64.0% of the subjects were females while 36.0% were males. The mean age of the subjects was 39.78 years (SD±13.36). Maximum income of subjects was N50,000.00 ($139.00) per month. Among the subject, 42.0% were still depressed with majority (61.9%) in remission, 26.2% in mild, 7.1% in moderate and 4.8% in severe stages of depression. Overall QOLwith respect to sociodemographic factors was statistically significant (P=0.001). Gender (P=0.001), age (P<0.001), marital status, (P<0.0010), and number of depressive episodes all yielded significant outcome.

Conclusion: Depression is a debilitating illness which reduces general wellbeing. Improving social and economic factors which adds to further impair QOL as revealed by our study will reduces the added burden on the patient.

Keywords: Major Depression,Quality of Life, Determinants