2 prominent myths about depression. Confusion often abounds when it comes to depression. I want to debunk three common myths regarding this mental health condition. First, though, we’ll briefly look at the epidemiology of the disease. Then I hope to explore some wrongly held beliefs about depression.
Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder in the general population of the United States. A national survey of over 36,000 individuals showed a prevalence of 10 percent for moderate symptoms associated with impairment. A remarkable twenty-one percent had severe symptoms. Nearly seventy percent received some form of treatment.
In the USA, the lifetime prevalence of depression is 21 percent. The survey also showed major depressive disorder to be more common among women. There was a higher prevalence among younger adults, white adults, and Native American adults than African American, Asian American, and Hispanic adults.
Income matters, too: For those making less than US$20,000, depression is more likely. In developing countries (such as the People’s Republic of China, Mexico, and Brazil), the estimated lifetime prevalence is 9 percent.
Here’s a selected country list of the 12-month prevalence of depression:
- Argentina — 4 percent
- Belgium — 5 percent
- Brazil — 10 percent
- Bulgaria — 3 percent
- China (People’s Republic) — 2 percent
- Colombia — 5 percent
- France — 6 percent
- Germany — 3 percent
- Iraq — 4 percent
- Israel — 6 percent
- Italy — 3 percent
- Japan — 2 percent
- Lebanon — 5 percent
- Mexico — 4 percent
- Netherlands — 5 percent
- Nigeria — 1 percent
- Peru — 3 percent
- Portugal — 7 percent
- Romania — 2 percent
- Spain — 4 percent
We may use the descriptor “depression” in several ways, often adding to the confusion. Depression may refer to a mood state reflected by anxiety, despair, discouragement, emptiness, or hopelessness. Some have no feelings or appear tearful. A depressed mood may be normal or a symptom of a psychopathological syndrome or a general medical disorder.
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