Depression is one of the most prevalent problems and the leading cause of disability worldwide. In Chile, the figures for this pathology are among the highest internationally. According to data provided by the National Health Survey 2016-2017 conducted by the Ministry of Health, 15.8% of the general population over 18 reported having experienced depressive symptoms in the last year, that is, feelings of sadness and loss of interest or ability to enjoy).

On the other hand, 6.2% of Chileans and Chileans were diagnosed with this pathology, showing a significant difference in national prevalence between women and men, with the former having a prevalence of 10.1% and men of 2.1%.

The Millennium Institute for Research in Depression and Personality (MIDAP) is a scientific centre made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and professionals from various areas of the social and health sciences, who seek to generate knowledge based on a multidimensional understanding of depression in interaction with personality, with the aim of maximizing the effectiveness of interventions by identifying the agents and mechanisms of change involved in prevention, psychotherapy and rehabilitation.

More than 150 researchers make up MIDAP’s scientific team, who come from its six host institutions: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universidad de Chile, Universidad del Desarrollo, Universidad de La Frontera, Universidad Diego Portales and Universidad de Valparaíso.