Nearly 50% of those diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Depression is the leading cause of disability in the United States among people between the ages of 15 and 44. Women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression.
Depression causes the hippocampus to raise its cortisol levels, impeding the development of neurons in your brain. The shrinkage of brain circuits is closely connected to the reduction of the affected part's function. While other cerebral areas shrink due to high levels of cortisol, the amygdala enlarges.
Depression affects more than a person's mood. It can affect the way they act, and how well they do in school. It also can affect their energy, sleep, and eating. Depression can even contribute to physical symptoms, like headaches and stomachaches.
Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.
How many people in Australia suffer from depression?
Over 8 million (about 32%) Australians reported that they had been diagnosed with a long-term health condition, with 2.2 million (about 9%) reporting a Mental health condition (including depression or anxiety) (ABS 2022b).
It can impact your mental and physical health. Depression can not only interfere with your life in terms of work and school, but also family and other relationships. Depression leaves a gaping hole where your presence in your life should be, and at it's most dangerous it puts you at significant risk for suicide.
According to 2019 estimates, about 280 million people worldwide have depression, including 5 percent of the world's adults and 5.7 percent of adults above the age of 60.
One in six U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year. Half of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24. Depression alone costs the nation about $210.5 billion annually. The average delay between onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years.
What are some facts and statistics about depression?
Depression Statistics
Major depressive disorder affects approximately 17.3 million American adults, or about 7.1% of the U.S. population age 18 and older, in a given year. ( ...
Major depressive disorder is more prevalent in women than in men. ( ...
1.9 million children, 3 – 17, have diagnosed depression. (
The term “depression” came into use in the 19th century, originally as “mental depression,” to describe lowering of spirits, and came to replace melancholia as a diagnosis.
The Cleveland Clinic reports that depression “can affect people of any age, including children. Although children naturally have mood swings as they grow and develop, depression is different.”
Infants don't have a life history to weigh them down or make them sad, but that doesn't mean they can't experience depression. Many mental health professionals believe, based on case studies and clinical experience, that babies can and do become depressed.
Depression has been linked to memory problems, such as forgetfulness or confusion. It can also make it difficult to focus on work or other tasks, make decisions, or think clearly. Stress and anxiety can also lead to poor memory. Depression is associated with short-term memory loss.
Dendrites are cellular extensions found in the neurons, or nerve cells. This suggests that depression is not an irreversible neurodegenerative disorder. Instead, its impact on the brain may be reversible, and the brain can heal.
