Objective: To access the Severity of Depression and cognitive impairment in different Geographical Regions of Pakistan

Methodology: A prospective observational study was undertaken as a subsidiary of a multicentered study conducted between April to October 2018 at 2019 in psychiatric clinics all over Pakistan. Patients presented to the outpatients departments at study sites across PAKISTAN were assessed for depression severity using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Each patient was assessed for cognitive impairment as well. The perceived deficits questionnaire (PDQ) was used to assess the degree of impairment. A total of 820 patients were a part of this study.

Results: The highest frequency of mild depression was seen in Punjab (0.90%) whereas the highest frequency of moderate depression was seen in KPK(47.20%), Moderately Severe depression in Azad Kashmir (65.70%) and Severe depression in Punjab (40.90%) respectively. The mean perceived cognitive dysfunction scores in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, KPK, Azad Kashmir were 52.63 ± 12.77, 48.45 ± 12.482, 51.85 ± 9.207, 49.92 ± 16.848, and 45.16 ± 14.615 respectively.

Conclusion: Punjab had a significantly higher incidence of severe depression as compared to other provinces. Lowest incidence of severe depression was found in the Azad Kashmir population

Keywords: depression, Pakistan,  cognitive dysfunction, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).