Prevalence of major depressive disorder

Major depressive disorder is one of the most common psychiatric illness in the general population across global cultures and is associated with significant degree of morbidity and mortality.
• People of all ages, backgrounds, lifestyles, and nationalities suffer from major depression, with a few exceptions.
• Up to 20% of people experience symptoms of depression.
• 10 times more people suffer from major depression now than in 1945
• The average age of first onset of major depression is 25-29

Studies have indicated that up to 56% of individual with major depressive disorder attempt suicide, and 15% eventually succeed in committing suicide.

Major depression occurs twice as frequently among female adults as among males. Numerous studies have reported the lifetime prevalence of major depressive disorder in the general adult population as 10% to 25% for women and 7% to 12% for men.

Epidemiological studies also have found that rates of depression are higher among those never married or previously married compared with those currently married.

It is estimated 35 to 40 million Americans living today will suffer from major depression at some time during their lives, with about half of this amount suffering from recurring depression symptoms.
Prevalence of major depressive disorder