The prevalence of recovered and new cases of depressionin relation to social support and temperament in an 11-year follow-up; The HUNT study

• Aims.This study aimed to describe changes in the prevalence of depression in relation tosocial support and temperament, in an 11-year follow-up study.Background.Lack of social support is a risk factor for depression. Understanding the role oftemperament and social support in relation to development of, and recovery from, depressionmay help nurses to intervene early with high-risk patients in order to prevent depression andpromote health.Design.Longitudinal design was used.Methods.In total, 26,709 men (42.8%) and women (57.2%) aged 20-89 years from Nord-Trøndelag County in Norway participated. Those who had a valid rating on the depressionsubscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) from The Nord-TrøndelagHealth Study (HUNT) wave 2 (1995-97) and wave 3 (2006-08), including a completeresponse to the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) and questions regarding socialsupport, were included.Results.The prevalence of new cases of depression was higher than the prevalence ofrecovery from depression. There was a significant association between the sub-groups ofdepression and temperament, changes in health, and social support. The risk factors for newcases had a greater causal influence on depression than risk factors for recovery.Conclusions.Prevention of depression seems to be more effective than treatment. Olderpeople and males are the most frequent new cases. Nurses should emphasize the interpersonalprocess to meet the needs of an individual patient and his or her social network that providessocial support, especially among older people and males.

Nyckelord

depression

nursing

social support

temperament

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