ABSTRACT
Several reports suggested that rates of depressive disorders are increasing (Cross National Collaborative Group, 1992; Fombonne, 1994; Klerman, 1988; Klerman & Weissman, 1989). This increase may lead to the identification of psychosocial causal mechanisms explaining these time trends. The main goals of this chapter are to critically review empirical evidence of a secular increase in the incidence of depressive conditions and to discuss interpretation problems in the available published studies. I do not address the issue of possible mechanisms underlying time trends in depressive conditions that are discussed elsewhere (Fombonne, 1995).
