Depression Facts & Statistics | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA

11.04.2009

Did You Know?

Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health conditions in the US.
According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), about 17.3 million adults (=7.3% of all US adults) in the US had at least one major depressive episode in the previous year. About 11 million adults (=4.5% of all US adults) ‘had at least one major depressive episode with severe impairment’. Rates of depression were higher among young adults between the ages of 18 and 25. About ‘35% of adults with major depressive episode did not receive treatment’ (NIMH).
'Percent of office visits with depression indicated on the medical record: 9.3%’ (CDC)
Nearly 21% of adults in the United States will go on to develop Major Depressive Disorder at some point in their lives (Hasin et al).
‘Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide’ (WHO).
The rates of depression have been rising among adolescents in the United States. Greater than 1 in 20 children age 6 to 17 in the United States, in 2011-2012, were found to have current anxiety or depression by parent report. (Bitsko et al 2018)
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2017, about 3.2 million adolescents age 12-17 years in the US (13.3 of all US teens ages 12 to 17) ‘had at least one major depressive episode’ (NIMH). About 60% of adolescents with a major depressive episode did not get treatment (NIMH).

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
- The leading cause of disability in the U.S. for ages 15 to 44; MDD can develop at any age, the median age at onset is 32.5 years old. NIMH: Major Depressive Disorder.
- MDD affects more than 21 million American adults or about 8.4% of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year.
- Only 61.7% of adults with MDD are receiving treatment.
- More prevalent in women than in men.

Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Almost 75% of people with mental disorders remain untreated in developing countries with almost 1 million people taking their lives each year. In addition, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 13 people globally suffers from anxiety. The WHO reports that anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders worldwide with specific phobia, major depressive disorder and social phobia being the most common anxiety disorders.(NIMH)

Persistent Depressive Disorder or PDD (formerly called dysthymia) is a form of depression that usually continues for at least two years.
- PDD affects approximately 3.1 million adults or 1.5% of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year. The average age of onset is 31 years old.(WHO)

ADAA Depression Webinars and Blog Posts

Depression: How to Recognize it and How to Treat it - ADAA free public webinar
Can Yoga Help with Depression? What Does the Research Say? - ADAA free public webinar
Depresión y ansiedad en niños/Anxiety and Depression in Children - Spanish psychoeducational video - ADAA free public webinar
Depresión/Depression - ADAA free public webinar
Depression Among College Students - ADAA free public webinar
Depression and Heart Disease: Chicken and the Egg, and What You Can Do - ADAA free public webinar
For My Anxiety or Depression: Should I Use Medication or Therapy? - ADAA free public webinar
How to Help Depressed and Suicidal Teenagers - ADAA free public webinar
Asking Your Pharmacist About Medications for Anxiety and Depression - ADAA free public webinar
Anxiety, Depression, and the LGBTQ Community: Thriving Through the Challenges - ADAA free public webinar
Exercise Against Anxiety and Depression - ADAA free public webinar
Our Kids: Anxiety and Depression - ADAA free public webinar
Treatments for Anxious and Depressed Kids and Teens - ADAA free public webinar
Bullying, Anxiety, and Depression - ADAA free public webinar
What Is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and How Is It Used to Treat Anxiety and Depression? - ADAA free public webinar
Depression: What You Need to Know About Medications - ADAA free public webinar
Genetics of Depression and Anxiety: What Do Clinicians Need to Know? - ADAA professional webinar
Mindfulness Over Matter: Integrating Mindfulness Into the Treatment of Depression - Presented in Partnership with The Child Mind Institute - ADAA professional webinar
Management of Treatment Resistant Depression - ADAA professional webinar
Introduction to the Magic of CBT for Anxiety, OCD, and Depression - ADAA professional webinar
Psychotherapy for GAD and Comorbid Major Depression - ADAA professional webinar
Childhood Depression - ADAA blog post
Watch, Ask and Listen: How to Tell if Your Child or Teen is Anxious or Depressed - ADAA blog post
How Do You Talk to Your Loved One Suffering With Depression? - ADAA blog post
Revolutionizing Depression Treatment with Digital Therapeutics - ADAA blog post
Dealing with Valentine's Day Depression - ADAA blog post
Criticism: Depression and Anxiety - ADAA blog post
Can CBD Help with My Anxiety and Depression - ADAA blog post
Influences of Cultural Differences in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Anxiety and Depression - ADAA blog post
Revolutionizing Depression Treatment with Digital Therapeutics - ADAA blog post
Heart Disease and Depression Often Go Hand in Hand: WomenHeart Can Help - ADAA blog post
Depression Among College Students - ADAA blog post
Anxiety and Depression in Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals - ADAA blog post
Dr. Chris’s Techniques For Lessening Anxiety And Depression - ADAA blog post
Seniors Coping with Anxiety and Depression - ADAA blog post
Depression and Daily Life - ADAA blog post
Alleviating Anxiety, Stress and Depression with the Pet Effect - ADAA blog post
What is Depression and How Do I Know If I Have It? - ADAA blog post
Women and Depression - ADAA blog post
Depression Treatment – It Works - ADAA blog post
Understanding Anxiety and Depression for LGBTQ People - ADAA blog post

ADAA Additional Resources

Community Resources

National Institute of Mental Health
World Health Organization
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
Hope for Depression Research Foundation
BlueCross BlueShield
Child Mind Insititute
Let's Talk About Depression, HealthCentral.com (Jan/Feb 2020) - Series of articles about the signs, types, and treatment for depression disorders, with ADAA CMO and Board Member Dr. Charles Nemeroff.
Faster and Easier Approaches for Improving Patients' Depression Treatment Outcomes, CareForYourMind.org, ADAA Member Michael Thase, MD
I Had a Black Dog, His Name Was Depression
Major Depression: The Impact on Overall Health
Depression Stories on The Mighty
Disability Benefits
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
6 Ways You Can Help an Older Adult with Depression, Junomedical.com

Content on this page was provided by ADAA member Richa Bhatia, MD, FAPA, Dual Board Certified Psychiatrist on November 2, 2020

References on this page:

https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/cbhsqreports/NSDUHDetailedTabs2017/NSDUHDetailedTabs2017.pdf. Accessed on Nov 1, 2020.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression.shtml. Accessed on Nov 1, 2020.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/depression.htm. Accessed on Oct 25, 2020.
Hasin DS, Sarvet AL, Meyers JL, et al. Epidemiology of Adult DSM-5 Major Depressive Disorder and Its Specifiers in the United States. JAMA Psychiatry. 2018;75(4):336–346. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.4602
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression. Accessed on Nov 1, 2020.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/chronic-illness-mental-health/index.shtml. Accessed on Oct 25, 2020.
Bitsko RH, Holbrook JR, Ghandour RM, et al. Epidemiology and Impact of Health Care Provider-Diagnosed Anxiety and Depression Among US Children. J Dev Behav Pediatr.
2018;39(5):395-403. doi:10.1097/DBP.0000000000000571
Katon WJ. Epidemiology and treatment of depression in patients with chronic medical illness. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2011;13(1):7-23.
Steffen, A., Nübel, J., Jacobi, F. et al. Mental and somatic comorbidity of depression: a comprehensive cross-sectional analysis of 202 diagnosis groups using German
nationwide ambulatory claims data. BMC Psychiatry 20, 142 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02546-8
Van der Kooy K, van Hout H, Marwijk H, Marten H, Stehouwer C, Beekman A.Depression and the risk for cardiovascular diseases: systematic review and meta analysis. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2007 Jul;22(7):613-26. doi: 10.1002/gps.1723. PMID:17236251.
Spijkerman T, de Jonge P, van den Brink RH, Jansen JH, May JF, Crijns HJ, Ormel J. Depression following myocardial infarction: first-ever versus ongoing and recurrent episodes. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2005 Nov-Dec;27(6):411-7. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2005.05.007. PMID: 16271655.
Mezuk B, Eaton WW, Albrecht S, Golden SH. Depression and type 2 diabetes over the lifespan: a meta-analysis. Diabetes Care. 2008 Dec;31(12):2383-90. doi: 10.2337/dc08-0985. PMID: 19033418; PMCID: PMC2584200.
Oladeji BD, Gureje O. The comorbidity between depression and diabetes. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2013 Sep;15(9):390. doi: 10.1007/s11920-013-0390-3. PMID: 23933977.
https://www.cdc.gov/aging/mentalhealth/depression.htm. Accessed on Nov 1, 2020

^{Note: This website page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical or psychiatric advice or recommendations, or diagnostic or treatment opinion. This is not a complete review or description of this subject. If you suspect a medical or psychiatric condition, please consult a health care provider. All decisions regarding an individual’s care must be made in consultation with your healthcare provider, considering the individuals’ unique condition. If you or someone you know is struggling, please contact the 24x7, confidential National Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or use the crisis text line by texting HOME to 741741 in the US, or go to http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html for the suicide hotline number for your country.}