How common is depression?
- About 1 in 7 adults get depression serious enough to need treatment at some point in their lives.1
- About 5 percent to 10 percent of people who visit their doctor have depression.2 Two to three times this number have some symptoms of depression, but not severely enough for them to be diagnosed.
- Up to 1 in 7 older people (over age 65) get some of the symptoms of depression. But depression that needs treatment is relatively rare in this age group.3
- Overall, depression is the fourth most important cause of disability worldwide.4 5
Sources for the information on this page:
- Reus V, Braunwald E, Fauci AS, et al. Mental disorders. In: Harrison TR (editor). Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 15th edition. McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.; 2001.
- Katon W, Rutter C, Ludman EJ, et al. A randomized trial of relapse prevention of depression in primary care. Archives of General Psychiatry. 2001; 58: 241-247. 11231831
- Beekman AT, Copeland JR. Review of community prevalence of depression in later life. British Journal of Psychiatry. 1999; 174: 307-311.
- Murray CJ, Lopez AD. Regional patterns of disability-free life expectancy and disability-adjusted life expectancy: global Burden of Disease Study. The Lancet. 1997; 349: 1347-1352.
- Murray CJ, Lopez AD. Alternative projections of mortality and disability by cause 1990-2020: Global Burden of Disease Study. The Lancet. 1997; 349: 1498-1504.
This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice.
Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
