20 Facts About Depression That Will Surprise You

Some of the facts about depression are well-known, but others may be more surprising. For example, many people may be unaware that depression disproportionately affects females and that the United States has a high rate of depression compared with other countries.

20 facts about depression

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When diagnosing depression, doctors or licensed mental health professionals will also need to rule out other conditions that can mimic the signs of depression. These include thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies, and other mental health conditions.

The condition can affect a person at any age, but, on average, people first experience depression in their late teens to mid-20s. A person is also more likely to experience depression if they have a parent or sibling with depression.

It is normal for a person to struggle with some of the more difficult experiences in life, such as the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or the loss of a job. Although the grieving process can share some similarities with depression, it is not the same thing.

In children, signs of depression could include anxiety, irritability, a refusal to go to school, clinging to parents, worrying about the possibility of a parent dying, or frequent attempts to pretend to be sick.

According to a 2019 study, 39% of people with HIV experience depression. This is a serious concern because depression is associated with higher HIV viral loads, lower CD4 counts, and reduced adherence to antiretroviral therapy.

According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, around 20% of people with anxiety or a mental health condition such as depression also have an alcohol use disorder or other substance disorder.

If your depression is severe, staying in the hospital is another treatment option. This is often beneficial where depression involves suicidal ideation, significant self-harm, or an inability to care for your own needs.

If you think you might have depression, the first step toward feeling better is often to talk with a doctor or mental health professional. They can talk with you about your individual experiences and suggest the most appropriate treatments and self-care strategies.

It's not uncommon for someone with an anxiety disorder to also suffer from depression or vice versa. Nearly one-half of those diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Find out more about depression.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)- GAD affects 6.8 million adults or 3.1% of the U.S. population, yet only 43.2% are receiving treatment. NIMH: Generalized Anxiety Disorder.- Women are twice as likely to be affected as men. GAD often co-occurs with major depression.

Specific Phobias- Specific phobias affect 19.3 million adults or 9.1% of the U.S. population. NIMH: Specific Phobias.- Women are twice as likely to be affected than men.- Symptoms typically begin in childhood; the average age of onset is 7 years old.- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are closely related to anxiety disorders, which some may experience at the same time, - along with depression.

Founded in 1979, ADAA is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention, treatment, and cure of anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and co-occurring disorders through aligning research, practice and education.

Many children have fears and worries, and may feel sad and hopeless from time to time. Strong fears may appear at different times during development. For example, toddlers are often very distressed about being away from their parents, even if they are safe and cared for. Although some fears and worries are typical in children, persistent or extreme forms of fear and sadness could be due to anxiety or depression. Learn about anxiety and depression in children.

Extreme depression can lead a child to think about suicide or plan for suicide. For youth ages 10-24 years, suicide is among the leading causes of death1. Read about youth suicide preventionexternal icon

Some children may not talk about their helpless and hopeless thoughts, and may not appear sad. Depression might also cause a child to make trouble or act unmotivated, causing others not to notice that the child is depressed, or to incorrectly label the child as a trouble-maker or lazy.

Being healthy is important for all children, and can be especially important for children with depression or anxiety. In addition to getting the right treatment, leading a healthy lifestyle can play a role in managing symptoms of depression or anxiety. Here are some healthy behaviors that may help:

NIMH supports research at universities, medical centers, and other institutions via grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. Learn more about NIMH research areas, policies, resources, and initiatives.

The Division of Intramural Research Programs (IRP) is the internal research division of the NIMH. Over 40 research groups conduct basic neuroscience research and clinical investigations of mental illnesses, brain function, and behavior at the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland. Learn more about research conducted at NIMH.

A mild depression is common to many new mothers (approximately 50 percent), and usually occurs immediately after birth. This condition is characterized by sudden mood swings that range from euphoria to intense sadness. It can last for only a few hours or as long as one to two weeks after delivery. Medical attention is not necessary.

Women who experience the baby blues are at an increased risk of developing postpartum depression. The condition is characterized by more intense feelings of sadness, despair, anxiety and irritability. The symptoms are longer lasting and may occur anytime within the first year. It often affects a woman's ability to function, and without medical attention, the symptoms may worsen.

Any woman who is pregnant, had a baby within the past several months, miscarried, recently weaned a child from breast feeding, or adopted a child can suffer from postpartum depression, regardless of how many previously non-complicated pregnancies and postpartum adjustments she has had. A woman may experience this regardless of her age, socioeconomic status, and number of children she has borne.

Although many people, including celebrities and professional athletes, have come forward to share their experiences with this illness, there is still more work to be done before depression is seen as a serious disease, not just something someone can choose to get better from.

Perhaps for this reason, depression is the #1 cause of disability around the world, since many people may not seek the treatment they need. In fact, an estimated 300 million people around the world are living with depression. That's an increase of more than 18% between 2005 and 2015, according to the World Health Organization.

Episodes of major depression can occur in the course of other types of depression, such as perinatal depression, bipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), psychotic depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and a short list of others.

For example, SAD, which is triggered by changes in the season, may be treated with light therapy, psychotherapy, medication or vitamin D. For bipolar disorder, which is characterized by episodes of depression and mania, patients are usually encouraged to pursue mood-balancing medication and psychotherapy.

For example, some people may experience the symptom of suicidal ideation or behavior, in which someone thinks about death or dying often, contemplates suicide or has attempted suicide, explains Abigail Nash, M.D., Ph.D. Abigail Nash, M.D., Ph.D., Medical Director, Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, Medical Director, Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.

Anyone can develop TRD. However, women, seniors, people with anxiety disorders and those with severe depression (having many and severe symptoms) can be at higher risk for developing treatment resistance. Some health issues, such as thyroid disease, chronic pain, substance abuse and eating and sleeping disorders can also make a person more susceptible to TRD.

Treating these forms of depression can be difficult. For MDD with suicidal thoughts or actions, symptoms need to be addressed quickly to keep the individual safe, and antidepressants can take up to four to six weeks to relieve symptoms, Dr. Nash explains. In addition, people with TRD tend to cycle through multiple antidepressants and may not experience symptom relief.*

"We've seen that chronic, low-grade inflammation in the brain, which occurs in a subgroup of people with depression, can return to normal levels once the patient responds favorably to treatment with an antidepressant," Dr. Drevets adds.

Women are also more vulnerable to depression during and after pregnancy, says Dr. Drevets, who attributes this phenomenon to fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone. "These hormones have a major effect on brain function," he notes.

"Janssen is actually studying perinatal depression, which is defined as depression during pregnancy and up to six months afterward, as part of our Disease Interception Accelerator program, which investigates how to identify and address root causes of certain diseases," Dr. Drevets says.

According to the Maternal Health Task Force at the Harvard Chan School Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health, perinatal depression is a major health concern, with a prevalence of around 10 to 20%. Currently, Janssen researchers, in collaboration with the University of North Carolina, are trying to figure out who is most at risk of developing perinatal depression by looking at specific biomarkers and clinical features.

One theory, explains Dr. Drevets, has to do with how depression creates an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system (which unconsciously regulates bodily functions) that makes you prone to heart-rhythm disturbances, which can increase mortality risk. 2ff7e9595c