Depression Statistics and Information

In any given 1-year period, 9.5 percent of the population, or about 18.8 million American adults, suffer from a depressive illness.

Robins LN, Regier DA (Eds). Psychiatric Disorders in America, The Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study, 1990; New York: The Free Press.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders indicates:

  • The risk of Major Depression in lifespan of adult women can be from 10% to 25% and in adult males 5%-12%.
  • Two-thirds of people diagnosed with Major Depression fully recover and return to previous levels of functioning.
  • Some 20%-30% may have some depressive symptoms that are mild in nature but that persist for months or years.
  • 50%-60% of people who have had a Major Depressive Episode can be expected to have another one.
  • Major Depression often follows severe psychosocial stressors.

Frequently people with Major Depression suffer from thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide gestures or suicide attempts. These range from thoughts that they have no more use, being better off dead, fleeing thoughts of not wanting to be around to endure the pain they are experiencing, and persistent thoughts of suicide with specific plans and intentions to commit suicide.

The mental health professional community has been trying to reduce the stigma of mental disorders and detect symptoms early through Depression Screening Day and public awareness. Recently Aetna Health Insurance Company agreed to pay primary care physician offices extra to provide initial screening for depression in their clinics.

Major Depression is a serious disorder that can be lethal but it doesn’t have to be! Through the use of evidenced-based depression treatment practices (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and pharmacological antidepressant interventions) most people will be back to normal before they know it.

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