Prevalence of depression

Prevalence of Depression:

Depression in Children and Adolescents:

A number of epidemiological studies have reported that up to 2.5 percent of children and up to 8.3 percent of adolescents in the U.S. suffer from depression. An NIMH-sponsored study of 9- to 17-year-olds estimates that the prevalence of any depression is more than 6 percent in a 6-month period, with 4.9 percent having major depression. In addition, research indicates that depression onset is occurring earlier in life today than in past decades. A recently published longitudinal prospective study found that early-onset depression often persists, recurs, and continues into adulthood, and indicates that depression in youth may also predict more severe illness in adult life. Depression in young people often co-occurs with other mental disorders, most commonly anxiety, disruptive behavior, or substance abuse disorders,  and with physical illnesses, such as diabetes.

       Prevalence of Depression by Race/Ethnicity:

Prevalence of major depressive disorder differed significantly by racial/ethnic group, with the highest prevalence in White participants. Mexican American and White individuals had significantly earlier onset of major depressive disorder compared with African American individuals .Overall, persons living in poverty had nearly 1.5 times the prevalence of major depressive disorder; however, poverty was significantly associated with prevalence of major depressive disorder only for White respondents. Lack of education (< 8 years of school) was significantly associated with prevalence of major depressive disorder only for Mexican American individuals^.

 In contrast to the comparative rates for major depressive disorder, the prevalence of dysthymic disorder was significantly greater among African American and Mexican American individuals compared with Whites. After we controlled for poverty, lack of education remained a significant risk factor for dysthymic disorder. In addition, significant interactions occurred between race/ethnicity, gender, and education in relation to prevalence of dysthymic disorder. Specifically, for White respondents (of both genders), a precipitous decline in prevalence of dysthymic disorder was seen with any education beyond middle school (> 8 years of education); however, for Mexican American and African American subjects, the incremental effect of education on the prevalence of dysthymia was less evident and depended on gender.

Prevalence statistics for Depression:

The following statistics relate to the prevalence of Depression:

·         6.5% of women have a major depressive disorder in the US (National Institute of    Mental Health, NIH)

·         3.3% of men have a major depressive disorder in the US (National Institute of Mental Health, NIH)

·         6.7 million women have a major depressive disorder in the US 1998 (National Institute of Mental Health, NIH)

·         3.2 million men have a major depressive disorder in the US 1998 (National Institute of Mental Health, NIH)

·         4-5% of population have major depression in Canada (National Population Health Survey, Health Canada).