Objective To provide reliable and valid data on the prevalence, risk factors and outcome of depressive illness in rural and urban settings within the European community based on an epidemiological sampling frame.To assess the impact of a person-centred preventive approach on the outcome of depression and on service utilisation and costs. Five centres across the EU with expertise in mental health epidemiology and interventions will participate in this study. Suitable urban and rural areas will be identified in each centre. The sampling frame will be adults aged 18-64, identified via primary care data bases or electoral registers. A two stage screening procedure will be adopted. In the first stage potential cases of depressive illness and depressive adjustment disorder will be identified using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and data will be gathered on life events, social support and sociodemographic details. Those scoring above cutoff on the BDI and a random 5% total sample will be offered a detailed interview by mental health trained researchers. This will use SCAN2 to assign caseness against DSMIV and ICD10 criteria; assess co-morbidity, disability, genetic/familial susceptibility, psychosocial stressors, personality traits and cognitive factors; and assess provision and utilisation of local health care services. A randomised controlled trial of person-centred prevention will be undertaken for respondents identified as cases of depression/depressive adjustment disorder. This will have three arms. 1: Individual intervention: a community mental health facilitator (MHF) will provide individual training in problem solving approaches. 2: Group intervention: as above, but group rather than individual training in problem solving approaches. 3: A control group with no intervention from the research project. Subjects will be followed-up at 6 and 12 months to assess outcome for subjects and health care utilization. Fields of science medical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic healthepidemiology Programme(s) FP4-BIOMED 2 - Specific research, technological development and demonstration programme in the field of biomedicine and health, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 3.9 - Epidemiological research Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator University of Liverpool EU contribution No data Address University of Liverpool L69 3GB LIVERPOOL United Kingdom See on map Total cost No data Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen Netherlands EU contribution No data Address 3,MONTESSORILAAN 6500 HE NIJMEGEN See on map Total cost No data National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health Finland EU contribution No data Address 20,Kunnallissairaaltie 20700 TURKU See on map Total cost No data Universidad de Cantabria Spain EU contribution No data Address S/N,Av. Valdecilla 39008 SANTANDER See on map Total cost No data University College Dublin Ireland EU contribution No data Address Eccles Street 7 Dublin See on map Total cost No data University of Oslo Norway EU contribution No data Address 166,PO Box 4404 Torshov 0403 OSLO See on map Total cost No data