, 2025-04-17 13:11:00
New data show a significant uptick in depression among US adolescents and adults, with few receiving treatment.
Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and has significant consequences for individual well-being and public health.
The latest data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), during 2021-2023, show that about 13% of individuals aged 12 years or older reported depression in the past 2 weeks — up from roughly 8% in 2013-2014.
The NHANES defined depression as a score of 10 or higher on the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire, a validated screening instrument assessing depression symptoms in the past 2 weeks, based on self-report.
Overall, depression affected more women than men (16% vs 10%), and depression prevalence decreased with age.
In the most recent period, overall rates of depression were the highest in adolescents aged 12-19 years (19%) and lowest in adults aged 60 years or older (9%).
Among women, depression rates were highest in adolescents aged 12-19 years (27%) and lowest in those older than 60 years (11%). In men, depression also decreased with age, although the difference between men aged 12-19 years and 20-39 years was not significant at 12% and 14%, respectively.
Depression prevalence was inversely related to income — 22% for those below the poverty line versus just 7% for those at or above 400% of the federal poverty level. The vast majority (88%) of people with depression reported difficulties in work, home, or social activities related to their depression.
Despite the high burden, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data show that only about 39% of those with depression received counseling or therapy from a mental health professional in the past 12 months. Therapy in the prior year was more common among women than among men (43% vs 33%).
Barriers to Care
Weighing in on the new data for Medscape Medical News, Howard Y. Liu, MD, MBA, chair of the Council of Communications at the American Psychiatric Association, said that “as a psychiatrist, I am always concerned when we see rising rates of depression. This CDC data suggests that the number of people ages 12 and older with depression increased in the last decade.”
Liu said it’s not surprising that family income had an impact on depression levels among teens and adults, with families below the poverty level reporting much higher rates of depression.
“This is relevant in times of economic uncertainty and unemployment as it suggests that we must do a better job of screening for depression and increasing the ability of all families to access therapy and medication treatment. With the right care, depression is a highly treatable condition,” said Liu, chair of the University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Psychiatry, Omaha, Nebraska.
The public health importance of screening and treatment for depression and other mental health conditions is highlighted in Healthy People 2030.
However, the United States has a significant shortage of mental health providers.
A National Center for Health Workforce analysis shows that as of August 2024, more than one third (122 million) of the US population lives in an area with a shortage of mental health professionals.
Further, a 2022 survey by the American Psychological Association showed that 60% of psychologists reported no openings for new patients, indicating a strained system unable to meet current demands.