Depression
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2013a) reported that in 2005/2006 an estimated 5.4% of all Americans over the age of 12 sought medical help for depression. Americans, however, are far from alone. Globally, 37% of lost life years due to disease have been attributed to mental illness (Insel, 2011). Of this 37%, depression is responsible for a full third. The economic burden of mental illness on a global scale is massive, representing $2.5 trillion dollars in 2010. By comparison, all health care spending worldwide in 2009 reached $5.1 trillion. These statistics suggest mental illness accounts for half of all health care spending globally and depression is responsible for approximately one-third. In addition, mental illness is expected to account for 35% of lost economic output within two decades. Given the substantial impact that depression has on society and the lives of individuals, this essay will review what is known about depression, its symptoms, how it is diagnosed and treated, and what can be done to prevent depressive episodes.
Who Gets Depression?
The greatest levels of depression were experienced by middle-aged Americans (7.3%), but between 4 and 5% of everyone else over the age of 12 also reported depressive symptoms (CDC, 2013b). Being female increased the risk for depression by 67.5%, but 4% of all males will experience depression as well. The prevalence of depression can be stratified by race and ethnicity, with depression afflicting 8% of African-Americans, 6.3% of Mexican-Americans, and 4.8% of Whites.
What is Depression?
A clinical depression of diagnosis in Western society has historically relied on the diagnostic criteria published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) (CDC, 2013a); however, it is impractical for primary care physicians and nurses to use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) to screen patients for depression. Doctors and nurses will generally look for persistent sadness, lost of interest in rewarding and pleasurable activities, changes in weight, chronic tiredness, cognitive impairment, and suicidal ideation. While many people will have a bad day, feel sad for a few days, or find it hard to get out of bed in the mornings, depression becomes an important health issue only when the symptoms impair the ability of the patient to engage fully in their lives for weeks at a time. Accordingly, family members, friends, employers, and colleagues...
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