Like major depression, subthreshold depression is associated with significant level of impairment.
Subthreshold forms of depression are particularly important because of their prevalence, clinical significance and cost.
Studies gave demonstrated that depressive symptoms in a various combinations, including subthreshold conditions, are present in as much as 24% of the population.
Subthreshold depression is believed to be more prevalent than major depression, particularly among the elderly. Interestingly, the symptoms are extremely frequent in patients with neurological disorders. 25% of the patients with epilepsy suffered from minor depression.
There was a suggestion that subthreshold depression may be associated with personality traits, more specially neuroticism and a history of parental overcontrol in childhood.
Subthreshold forms of mental illness are becoming a focus of research as quality of life and prevention of serious mental illness are recognized as important public health concerns.
Subthreshold depression is an indicator of risk for developing threshold depression and a focus for indicated prevention. Some forms of subthreshold depression are conditions suitable for treatment and secondary prevention.
Subthreshold depression
