Depression is a mental disorder estimated to affect 350 million people worldwide. It is expected that in 2030 it becomes the commonest disorder among world population.

Depression causes not only physical and mental disability but it is also the main cause of suicide. Because it is a generalized public health problem which can be treated and prevented, the World Health Organization dedicated 10th October, World Mental Health Day, to the big issue of depression.

Aware of the importance of this disease, the Institute of Public Health, University of Porto has been fertile in publications on the topic:

Lourenço S, Lucas R, Ramos E, Barros H, Depressive symptoms and bone mineral density in a cohort of Portuguese adolescents: no association. Eur J Epidemiol, 2012; 27 (Suppl 1): S48-S49

Pereira D, Severo M, Barros H, Branco J, Santos RA, Ramos E, The effect of depressive symptoms in the ability of knee pain to identify radiographic osteoarthritis Eur J Epidemiol, 2012; 27 (Suppl 1): S23

Samorinha AC, Costa D, Sousa S, Fraga S, Machado H, Rodrigues T, Silva S, Does individual versus couple interview affect the reporting of depression, anxiety, social support and marital relationship by infertile women? Eur J Epidemiol, 2012; 27 (Suppl 1): S112-S113

Fraga S, Ramos E, Dias S, Barros H, Depressive symptoms and physical fighting among adolescents Eur J Public Health , 2010; 20 (SUPPL1):165-66

Pinto I, Fraga S, Ramos E, Depressive symptoms and alcohol use among adolescents Epidemiol Prev, 2010; 34 (5-6): 106

Pereira M, Costa D, Azevedo A, Effect of depressive symptoms on the incidence of hypertension in adults: a population-based study in Porto Eur J Epidemiol, 2009; 24(S-1):61

Azevedo A, Bettencourt P, Friões F, Alvelos M, Abreu-Lima C, Hense HW, Barros H, Depressive symptoms and heart failure stages Psychosomatics, 2008; 49(1):42-48

Azevedo A, Martins E, Rodrigues RA, Abreu-Lima C, Bettencourt P, Barros H, Depressive symptoms and heart failure according to the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association Eur J Heart Fail, 2005; 4 (Suppl 1): 70-71

Azevedo A, Martins E, Rodrigues RA, Abreu-Lima C, Bettencourt P, Barros H, Depressive symptoms and heart failure stages according to the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association Rev Port Cardiol, 2005; 24 (supl I): I-135

Barros H, Pereira C, Body mass index and depressive symptoms in Adolescents Gac Sanit , 2003; 17 (suppl 2): 69

Santos AC, Barros H, Education menopause, health-related quality of life and depression in overweight and obese women Gac Sanit , 2003; 17 (suppl 2): 154

Coelho R, Martins A, Barros H, Clinical profiles relating gender and depressive symptoms among adolescents ascertained by the Beck Depression Inventory II Eur Psychiatry, 2002; 17(4):222-226

Gonçalves M, Ramos E, António Palha, Teresa Paiva, The impact of one month NCPAP in sleepiness, depressive symptoms, erectile dysfunction, GER and nocturia in OSAS patients J Sleep Res, 2002; (Supl I): 83

Coelho R, Rangel R, Ramos E, Martins A, Prata J, Barros H, Depression and the severity of substance abuse Psychopatology, 2000; 33(3):103-9

Coelho R, Silva C, Maia A, Prata J, Barros H, Bone mineral density and depression: a community study in women J Psychosom Res, 1999; 46(1):29-35

Areias ME, Kumar R, Barros H, Figueiredo E, Comparative incidence of depression in women and men, during pregnancy and after childbirth. Validation of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in Portuguese mothers Br J Psychiatry, 1996; 169(1):30-5

Areias ME, Kumar R, Barros H, Figueiredo E, Correlates of postnatal depression in mothers and fathers Br J Psychiatry, 1996; 169(1):36-4