Depression is one of the more commonly experienced mental disorders.
For example, in 1985, psychologists John Wing and Paul Bebbington examined
research that used psychological tests to measure the prevalence of (or
lifetime risk for) depression in the general population. They found that estimates
of the prevalence of depression generally ranged from about 5 to 10
percent. Interestingly, all the studies examined by Wing and Bebbington
agreed that depression was more common in women than in men. Estimates
of the prevalence of depression ranged from 2.6 to 4.5 percent in men and
from 5.9 to 9.0 percent in women.
Depression is also related to other characteristics. Risk for depression increases
with age. The evidence is clear that depression is more common in
adults and the elderly than in children or adolescents. Interest in childhood
depression has increased since the early 1970’s, however, and the number of
children and adolescents who have been diagnosed as depressed has increased
since that time. Depression is also related to socioeconomic status.
In general, people who are unemployed and who are in lower income
groups have higher risks for depression than others. This may be a result of
the higher levels of stress experienced by individuals in lower-income groups.
Finally, family history is related to depression. That is, clinical depression
tends to run in families. This is consistent with both biological and psychological
theories of depression.
Psychologists face several difficulties when attempting to determine the
prevalence of depression. First, the symptoms of depression range in severity
from mild to severe. It may not always be clear at which point these symptoms
move from the mild nuisances associated with “normal” levels of sadness
to significant symptoms associated with clinical depression. Since the
early 1970’s, clinical psychologists have devoted an increased amount of attention
to depressions that occur at mild to moderate levels. Even though
these milder depressions are not as debilitating as clinical depression, they
produce significant distress for the individual and so warrant attention. In
1980 the term “dysthymic disorder” was introduced to describe depressions
which, although mild to moderate, persist chronically.
Another complication in determining the prevalence of depression is
that it may occur either as a primary or as a secondary problem. As a primary
problem, depression is the initial or major disorder which should be the focus
of clinical intervention. On the other hand, as a secondary problem, depression
occurs in reaction to or as a consequence of another disorder. For
example, many patients experience such discomfort or distress from medical
or mental disorders that they eventually develop the symptoms of depression.
In this case, the primary disorder and not depression is usually the focus
of treatment.
of the prevalence of depression ranged from 2.6 to 4.5 percent in men and
from 5.9 to 9.0 percent in women.
Depression is also related to other characteristics. Risk for depression increases
with age. The evidence is clear that depression is more common in
adults and the elderly than in children or adolescents. Interest in childhood
depression has increased since the early 1970’s, however, and the number of
children and adolescents who have been diagnosed as depressed has increased
since that time. Depression is also related to socioeconomic status.
In general, people who are unemployed and who are in lower income
groups have higher risks for depression than others. This may be a result of
the higher levels of stress experienced by individuals in lower-income groups.
Finally, family history is related to depression. That is, clinical depression
tends to run in families. This is consistent with both biological and psychological
theories of depression.
Psychologists face several difficulties when attempting to determine the
prevalence of depression. First, the symptoms of depression range in severity
from mild to severe. It may not always be clear at which point these symptoms
move from the mild nuisances associated with “normal” levels of sadness
to significant symptoms associated with clinical depression. Since the
early 1970’s, clinical psychologists have devoted an increased amount of attention
to depressions that occur at mild to moderate levels. Even though
these milder depressions are not as debilitating as clinical depression, they
produce significant distress for the individual and so warrant attention. In
1980 the term “dysthymic disorder” was introduced to describe depressions
which, although mild to moderate, persist chronically.
Another complication in determining the prevalence of depression is
that it may occur either as a primary or as a secondary problem. As a primary
problem, depression is the initial or major disorder which should be the focus
of clinical intervention. On the other hand, as a secondary problem, depression
occurs in reaction to or as a consequence of another disorder. For
example, many patients experience such discomfort or distress from medical
or mental disorders that they eventually develop the symptoms of depression.
In this case, the primary disorder and not depression is usually the focus
of treatment.
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