Tell Me More About Depression.
5. How common is depression?
About 4% of North Americans suffer from major depression at any given time. Women are twice as likely as men to suffer a depressive episode. Changes in female hormones after birth and around menopause can trigger a depressive episode.
Depression effects 20% to 50% of people with neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy or stroke disease, and 10% to 20% of people with other medical illnesses such as cancer, HIV and heart disease.
People who develop anxiety disorders or substance abuse early in life are more likely to develop depression. So are people who have experienced early physical or sexual abuse, parental loss and have little support from others.
References:
Parikh SV, Lam RW, CANMAT Depression Work Group. Clinical guidelines for the treatment of depressive disorders: I Definitions, prevalence and health burden. Can J Psychiatry 2001;46(suppl1):13S-20S.
Kennedy SH, Lam RW, Beaulieu S, O’Donovan C. New perspectives in the management of depression: Are you aware? Presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Psychiatric Association; October 2004; Montreal, Quebec. |
