Doctors underlined the importance of dealing with depressive disorders by stressing that two to five per cent of the population suffers from the problem.

In a recent joint study conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Bank and Harvard University, it was found that depression is one of the most common mental disorders affecting as many as 340 million people in the world today, accounting for a loss of 10 per cent of productive years throughout the world.

However, depression is also one of the most treatable disorders and 80 per cent of people with depression can be treated successfully with medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two.

Two world renowned scientists in the field of psychiatry and psychiatric pharmacology have joined their medical expertise to discuss the latest findings and treatments available for depression in a press conference held yesterday in Dubai for the launch of "Cipralex" which is seen as the newest breakthrough for the treatment of depression.

The event was aimed at increasing awareness among UAE residents on the psychological, physical and social impact of depression.

In a visit to Dubai, Dr Alan Wade, a general practitioner at CPS Clinical Research Centre in Clydebank, Scotland, and Professor Stuart Montgomery, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at the Imperial College of Medicine in the University of London, underlined the importance of dealing with depression and breaking social taboos in order to use the correct treatment for it.

"Major depression is a huge problem and it is growing. People of all ages, backgrounds, lifestyle and nationalities may suffer from it.

"One in four women and one in ten men can expect to develop depression during their lifetime, but it's not just adults who suffer. Depression also affects at least one in 50 children under 12 and one in 20 teenagers," Professor Montgomery said.