Depression May Be More Common Than You Think

In spite of the lessening stigma of mental disorder and the increased availability of antidepressive drugs, clinical depression continues to plague nearly 10% of US adults.  The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report contains an article from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that gives important statistics on the occurrence of depression in a sample of almost ¼ million citizens. 

Depression was most common in the Southeast, with Mississippi having the highest prevalence (14.8%), and North Dakota the lowest (4.8%).  It was more common in women than in men; in blacks and Hispanics than in whites; and in middle-aged adults rather than in younger or older folk.  And those without health insurance were more likely to have depression than those who were covered.  Previously or never married were more likely to be depressed than those who were currently married, and the unemployed or unable to work were depressed more frequently than homemakers, students, retired, and employed people.

These are not necessarily very startling findings, but they serve to remind family doctors to think of the possibility when confronted by a patient with relevant symptoms.  For older people, diagnosis has become easier – now there’s a test that’s sufficiently sensitive and specific to allow reference to a specialist (i.e. a psychiatrist or specialized psychologist).  This is the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and its use in the elderly is described in a BMC Family Practice online article.  You can teast yourself, if you like – just click on the PHQ-9 link - but I doubt that you’re depressed, if you're reding this . . .