Prevalence and Incidence of Depressive disorders

About prevalence and incidence statistics: The term 'prevalence' of Depressive disorders usually refers to the estimated population of people who are managing Depressive disorders at any given time. The term 'incidence' of Depressive disorders refers to the annual diagnosis rate, or the number of new cases of Depressive disorders diagnosed each year. Hence, these two statistics types can differ: a short-lived disease like flu can have high annual incidence but low prevalence, but a life-long disease like diabetes has a low annual incidence but high prevalence. For more information see about prevalence and incidence statistics.

Prevalance of Depressive disorders: 9.5 percent of adult Americans (NIMH)
Prevalance Rate: approx 1 in 10 or 9.50% or 25.8 million people in USA [about data]
Incidence (annual) of Depressive disorders: estimated 18.8 million American adults annually (NIMH)
Incidence Rate: approx 1 in 14 or 6.91% or 18.8 million people in USA [about data]
Prevalance of Depressive disorders: In any given 1-year period, 9.5 percent of the population, or about 18.8 million American adults, suffer from a depressive illness.⁵ The economic cost for this disorder is high, but the cost in human suffering cannot be estimated. Depressive illnesses often interfere with normal functioning and cause pain and suffering not only to those who have a disorder, but also to those who care about them. Serious depression can destroy family life as well as the life of the ill person. But much of this suffering is unnecessary. ¹

Prevelance of Depressive disorders discussion: An estimated 6 percent of Americans ages 65 and older in a given year, or approximately 2 million of the 34 million adults in this age group in 1998, have a diagnosable depressive illness (major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, or dysthymic disorder).²

Prevelance statistics about Depressive disorders: The following statistics relate to the prevalence of Depressive disorders:

18.8 million adults in America affected by depressive disorders (CBCF Health Organisation, 2004)
9.5% of population over 18 in America affected by depressive disorders (CBCF Health Organisation, 2004)
18.8 million adults over 18 with depressive disorders in the US (National Institute of Mental Health, NIH)
9.5% of adults over 18 with depressive disorders in the US (National Institute of Mental Health, NIH)
Twice as many women affected by depressive disorders as men in the US (National Institute of Mental Health, NIH)
12% of women in the US have a depressive disorder (National Institute of Mental Health, NIH)
6.6% of men in the US have a depressive disorder (National Institute of Mental Health, NIH)
12.4 million women in the US 1998 have a depressive disorder (National Institute of Mental Health, NIH)
6.4 million men in the US 1998 have a depressive disorder (National Institute of Mental Health, NIH)
4 men per 100,000 population suffer from a depressive disorder in Australia 1997 (Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
7 women per 100,000 population suffer from a depressive disorder in Australia 1997 (Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)

Incidence statistics about Depressive disorders: The following statistics relate to the incidence of Depressive disorders:

12% of men affected by depressive disorders each year in America (CBCF Health Organisation, 2004)
7% of women affected by depressive disorders each year in America (CBCF Health Organisation, 2004)
12.4 million women affected by depressive disorders each year in America (CBCF Health Organisation, 2004)
6.4 million men affected by depressive disorders each year in America (CBCF Health Organisation, 2004)

Footnotes:
1. excerpt from Depression: NIMH
2. excerpt from Older Adults Depression and Suicide Facts: NIMH

Medical Tools & Articles:

Next articles:

Medical Articles: