Major Depression Statistics

Are you or a loved one living with major depressive disorder? The following facts and statistics explore the prevalence of this condition.

Several clinical studies have been conducted to determinemajor depressive disorder(MDD) statisticsas seen in the American population. The information provided concerningMDD facts and statisticsmay change over time as research continues to be conducted.

Prevalence of Major Depression

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of themost commonmental health disorders in the United States. A 2018 study reported that for a 12-month prevalence period,10.4%of Americans had major depressive disorder, while20.6%of Americans had a lifetime prevalence.

According to theCenters for Disease Control (CDC), between 2013 and 2016:

• Women were approximately twice as likely (10.4%) as men (5.5%) to have MDD
• Non-Hispanic adults had the lowest prevalence of major depression at (3.1%)
• African Americans had a prevalence of 9.2%
• The prevalence of depression increased as family income decreased. Approximately 15.8% of the U.S. population that were living below the federal poverty level were suffering from depression.

According to theWorld Health Organization (WHO), depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, impacting 300 million people.

Age of Onset

Although major depressive disorder occurs more commonly in the adult population, major depressive disorder can occur at any age. According to theAnxiety and Depression Association of America, the average age of onset for major depressive disorder is 32.5 years.

Diagnosing Clinical Depression

Diagnosing clinical depressionis based on the new fifth edition of theDiagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM-V). According to theDSM-V criteria, clinical depression is defined as having at least five or more symptoms for two weeks, with at least one of the signs being depressed mood or loss of interest.

The eight symptoms of clinical depression are:

• Depressed mood most of the day nearly every day
• Increased low interest or pleasure in activities every day or most days
• Increased weight loss or weight gain when not dieting, or a decrease or increase in appetite most days
• Slowing down of thoughts and reduction in physical movement
• Fatigue or loss of energy most days
• Feelings of worthlessness or increased guilt most days
• Decreased ability to think or concentrate or indecisiveness most days
• Having repetitive thoughts of death or suicide

Major Depressive Disorder and Related Conditions

Major depressive disorder is associated with several chronic conditions. Two major chronic diseases that people with MDD are often affected by are coronary heart disease and diabetes. According to onestudy, approximately 7 million Americans that have coronary heart disease also have major depressive disorder. TheAgency for Healthcare Research and Qualityindicated that 20% of people with major depressive disorder also had coronary heart disease. Anotherresearch studyshowed that people with depression were twice as likely to have diabetes compared to the general population.

Major depression can also co-occur with other psychiatric disorders.Anxietyandeating disordersare two of the most common mental health conditions that co-occur with MDD.

Anxiety

According to onestudy, about 51.2% of patients with depression also have anxiety. Approximately75%of patients in primary health care settings live with both depression and anxiety.

Eating Disorders

According to theNational Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders.

• Major depression andanorexiacoexist 30–50% of the time
• Major depression andbulimiacoexist about 50% of the time
• Major depression andbinge eating disordercoexist 50% of the time
• Major depression andother specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED)coexist approximately 50% of the time

Major Depression Suicide Rate

According to theWorld Federation of Mental Health, for every person who completes a suicide, at least 20 will attempt to end their life. Though the vast majority of people who attempt suicide do not complete the act, the associated risk of death from major depressive disorder is still dangerous by any standard.

Thankfully, treatment can help save these lives. According to theU.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there is a somewhat low likelihood that somebody that has depression will die from suicide if they receive proper treatment. Only2%of people treated for depression in an outpatient setting will die from suicide. Those people treated in the inpatient setting are only twice as likely(4%)to die from suicide, generally because their depression is more severe.

Major Depressive Disorder Prognosis and Outlook

Major depressive disorder prognosisdepends on factors such as relapse and remission. Onestudyshows that 80% of patients will have a recurrent episode of depression. According toanother article, depression is likely to be the second leading cause of disability worldwide by 2020. By 2030, depression is expected to be the leading cause of disability worldwide, according to theWorld Health Organization.

Related Topic:How long does depression last?

Statistics on Major Depressive Disorder Treatment

There are various forms oftreatment for major depression.However, the choice of treatment for MDD depends on the severity of the disease.

Some of the mostcommon treatmentsavailable for major depressive disorder include:

• Psychotherapy:There are various forms of psychotherapy, but the most common iscognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which is a form of therapy that attempts to help individuals cope with negative thoughts and emotions.
• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs):These medications increase the amount of serotonin available in the brain by preventing serotonin (a chemical in the brain) from being recycled. The most common SSRIs used are fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), citalopram (Celexa), or escitalopram (Lexapro).
• Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs): SNRIs are the second-most commonly prescribed medications for MDD, after SSRIs. These medications increase the amount of serotonin and norepinephrine available in the brain by preventing them from being recycled. The most common SNRIs used are venlafaxine (Effexor), desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), or duloxetine (Cymbalta).

The best treatment for MDD depends on the individual andthe severity of their condition.However,success is often seen when a combination of drug therapy and psychotherapy is used. Acomprehensive studyevaluated whether using SSRIs alone or using SSRIs with psychotherapy was better. The results indicated that using SSRIs with psychotherapy was better than using SSRIs alone. Anotherstudyfound that using combined forms of psychotherapy with medications was only effective for the treatment of moderate to severe depression. However, for mild depression, using psychotherapy along with medications was not more effective than using psychotherapy alone.

If you or anybody you know has major depression and are suicidal:

• Call 1−800−273−TALK (8255)to reach theNational Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• Call 911
• Performmental health first aid
• Reach out to a friend or loved one

In many cases, people with MDD also live withco-occurring drug or alcohol abuse. If you’re ready to take the first step toward treatment for these conditions, The Recovery Village can help.Call The Recovery Villagetoday to get started.