Depression and Social Vulnerability to Depression

This study is based on literature regarding depression as an important issue of the public health. It aimed to identify the role of the social factor (social vulnerability), during the occurrence of the depressive episode. Therefore, 139 patients with light and medium intensity depressive episodes were investigated. Positive correlations were found between the age of occurrence and the shortfalls of the familial and social functioning. Negative correlations between the social sensitivity and the time span between the depressive episodes were also found. The results contribute to the elaboration of some appropriate primary and secondary prevention programs focused on the depressive persons' social support network. (C) 2012 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.