Table 1. Published papers on the prevalence and risk factors of depression in UAE from 2007–2017.

Author/year/reference	Aim	Study design	Settings	Study population	Key findings	Future implications or study recommendations
Hamdan et al. 200821	Correlates and prevalence of depressive symptoms.	Cross-sectional study	Primary health care centers of Sharjah	224 Arab women (aged 18 and above)	Prevalence, 33%: 14.7% moderately depressed and 18% severely depressed. Risk factors: Stressful life events.	Intervention and prevention programs need to be developed in the future to address the mental health needs of Arab females.
Ahmed et al. 200922	Depression phenomenology and anxiety among medical doctors.	Cross-sectional study	Government hospitals (3), primary health care centers (3), and the students (all years) and staff of Dubai Medical College for Girls	165 medical students and 93 doctors	Medical students: 28.7% presented anxiety; 28.6% exhibited depression (second-year students showing the highest anxiety and depression). Medical staff: 2.2% showed anxiety; 7.8% exhibited depression.	More improved research designs are needed to illuminate the factors leading to anxiety and depression.
Al-Maskari et al. 201123	Suicidal behaviors and depression among male migrant workers.	Cross-sectional study	Labor camps, Al Ain city	319 contacted workers; 239 fully completed the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-42)	Prevalence score3 10 (depression) = 25.1% (60/239). Thoughts of suicide: 6.3% (20/261). Attempted suicide: 2.5% (8/265). Risk factors: Physical illness (97/301), less salary (203/314), working more than eight hours (213/315), and working in the construction industry (124/304).	Implementation and interventions at policy levels are needed to improve working conditions, such as working hours and minimum wages regulation.
Sulaiman et al. 201024	Psychological distress prevalence and its correlates.	Cross-sectional study	Mini-clinics (primary health care centers), Sharjah hospitals	347 diabetic; (65.4%) females	Approximately 12.5% of patients obtained a score of 19 or above (cut-off score) on the K6 questionnaire, indicating possible mental health concerns. 24% demonstrated diabetes complications. Mental health status and diabetic complications are strongly associated.	Mental health needs improvement in comprehensive diabetes management plans to improve the long-term outcomes of these patients.
Ghubach et al. 201025	Association of physical and psychiatric disorders on life satisfaction.	Qualitative face to face interviews	UAE	610 adults; > 60 years (347 males and 263 females)	Depression (20.2%), anxiety (5.6%), hypochondriasis (4.4%), and organic brain syndrome with/ without dementia (3.6%). Depressive disorder was associated significantly with less life satisfaction.	There is a need to develop interventions that help elderly patients deal more effectively with psychiatric disorders as well as its comorbidities. Family support is key to prevent this condition among the older population.
Mellal et al. 201426	Determine the prevalence of depression.	Cross-sectional study	Al Ain	700 university students	Depression prevalence: 22.2%. Risk factors: Socioeconomic determinants: age (highest rate observed in the 17–25 age group), financial difficulties, overweight, and obesity.	Mental health screening services should be offered to university students to identify individuals at a higher risk of developing depression.
Alsaadi et al. 201527	Depression and anxiety patients were screened to determine the rates of these conditions in patients with epilepsy and multiple sclerosis.	Cross-sectional study	Epilepsy and multiple sclerosis clinics in Abu Dhabi	186 depressive patients and 160 with anxiety (aged 18–65 years)	Epileptic patients were at a higher risk of depression. Anxiety and depression are probably encountered more frequently in epilepsy patients.	Multicenter studies with a larger sample are needed in the future to confirm the shared pathogenic mechanisms between depression and epilepsy.
Alsaadi et al. 201528	The rates of anxiety and depression among epileptic patients were compared with the age- and sex-matched controls using standardized screening tools.	Cross-sectional study	Epilepsy clinic (Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, UAE)	186 patients	One-third of patients scored under the range of depression and anxiety. Two-thirds of patients with anxiety and depression did not prescribe to antianxiety or antidepressant medications. Epilepsy patients had an almost two-fold greater risk of having anxiety disorders and depression compared with controls.	During the evaluation of epilepsy in all neurology clinics, screening for these strongly correlated conditions should be an adopted protocol.
Hawamdeh et al. 201329	To investigate the socio-demographic characteristics of UAE diabetic and depressed women; To explore the difference between non-depressed and depressed with regards to glycemic control.	Cross-sectional study	UAE	182 women; 92 with diabetes	Higher depression incidence was found in diabetic women than non-diabetic women. A positively significant relationship was found between higher depression levels and poor glycemic control. In UAE diabetic women sample, depression levels and national status were correlated; half showed poor glycemic control (HbA1C levels > 7.5).	Early depression detection among women is essential to increase the adherence to treatment regimens and glycemic control.
Schulte et al. 201330	Relationship between body dissatisfaction, eating pathology symptoms, and depression was investigated.	Cross-sectional study	UAE	361 (284 females, 77 males) undergraduates	Three quarters (73%) of the sample indicated body dissatisfaction (78% of females, 58% of males) and 20% scored above the clinical cutoff on the eating pathology scale (20% of females, 22% of males) In both genders, the depressive symptoms significantly predicted higher levels of eating pathology.	Adequate prevention strategies locally should address the needs for both males and females, and potential depressive comorbidity should also be considered.
Alsaadi et al. 201731	To explore the potential factors that impact health-related quality of life among patient with epilepsy.	Cross-sectional study	Sheikh Khalifa Medical City	160 epileptic adult patients	Depression, followed by seizure freedom, were known to be strongly correlated with health-related quality of life.	Screening for comorbid psychiatric disorders needs to be a crucial component of care standards, as well as an integrated plan of treatment for all patients suffering epilepsy.
Gariballa et al. 201832	To explore the impact of low muscle function measure by handgrip strength on the mental health of old individuals during recovery and acute illness.	Cross-sectional study	UAE	432 randomly selected hospitalized older patients	79% (308) had low muscle strength at baseline. After adjustment for gender, disability, age, comorbidities (including the severity of acute illness and body mass index), patients with low muscle strength had worse cognitive function, quality of life, and higher depression symptoms compared with those with normal muscle strength over six months. (p < 0.05).	Clinical trials on humans in the future are needed to combine research with cellular and molecular investigations to understand the association between mental functions and muscles. Also, the role of optimizing dietary intake should be explored including protein and increase physical activity particularly following acute illness on muscle and mental functions in aging patients.
Thomas et al. 201133	To explore the relationship between mood and vitamin D deficiency.	Cross-sectional study	Students in Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, UAE	197 female undergraduate students	Depressive symptoms peak during the summer months. Seasonal variations in the severity of depressive symptoms were observed. The mean depression scores of summer cohorts (16.85 ± 11.25) being higher than winter cohort (13.98 ± 7.98).	Prevention of depressive illness and mental health promotion are warranted in future.
Thomas et al. 201834	Association between depressive symptoms and vitamin D deficiency.	Controlled pilot study	UAE citizens from a University in Abu Dhabi	114 college women	Positive findings were observed for depressive symptoms. Behavioral activation and sun exposure are effective strategies to alleviate depressive symptoms and status of vitamin D deficiency.	Sun exposure and behavioral activation appear to be a promising intervention.

UAE: United Arab Emirates.