New data show a significant uptick in depression among US adolescents and adults, with few receiving treatment.<\/p>\n
Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and has significant consequences for individual well-being and public health.<\/p>\n
The latest data<\/a> from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), during 2021-2023, show that about 13% of individuals aged 12 years or older reported depression in the past 2 weeks \u2014 up from roughly 8% in 2013-2014.<\/p>\n The NHANES defined depression as a score of 10 or higher on the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire, a validated screening instrument assessing depression symptoms in the past 2 weeks, based on self-report.<\/p>\n Overall, depression affected more women than men (16% vs 10%), and depression prevalence decreased with age.<\/p>\n In the most recent period, overall rates of depression were the highest in adolescents aged 12-19 years (19%) and lowest in adults aged 60 years or older (9%).<\/p>\n Among women, depression rates were highest in adolescents aged 12-19 years (27%) and lowest in those older than 60 years (11%). In men, depression also decreased with age, although the difference between men aged 12-19 years and 20-39 years was not significant at 12% and 14%, respectively.<\/p>\n Depression prevalence was inversely related to income \u2014 22% for those below the poverty line versus just 7% for those at or above 400% of the federal poverty level. The vast majority (88%) of people with depression reported difficulties in work, home, or social activities related to their depression.<\/p>\n Despite the high burden, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data show that only about 39% of those with depression received counseling or therapy from a mental health professional in the past 12 months. Therapy in the prior year was more common among women than among men (43% vs 33%).<\/p>\n Barriers to Care<\/strong><\/p>\n Weighing in on the new data for Medscape Medical News, Howard Y. Liu, MD, MBA, chair of the Council of Communications at the American Psychiatric Association, said that \u201cas a psychiatrist, I am always concerned when we see rising rates of depression. This CDC data suggests that the number of people ages 12 and older with depression increased in the last decade.\u201d<\/p>\n Liu said it\u2019s not surprising that family income had an impact on depression levels among teens and adults, with families below the poverty level reporting much higher rates of depression.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is relevant in times of economic uncertainty and unemployment as it suggests that we must do a better job of screening for depression and increasing the ability of all families to access therapy and medication treatment. With the right care, depression is a highly treatable condition,\u201d said Liu, chair of the University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Psychiatry, Omaha, Nebraska.<\/p>\n The public health importance<\/a> of screening and treatment for depression and other mental health conditions is highlighted in Healthy People 2030.<\/p>\n However, the United States has a significant shortage of mental health providers.\u00a0<\/p>\n