Depression is one of the most common mental disorder in the United States. The statistics collected by the National Institute of Mental Health on depression in the United States are very concerning. In 2016, 6.7 percent of all U.S. adults had at least one major depressive episode (16.2 million). If we focus only on teens, the prevalence jumps to 12.8 percent. The rates are even higher in adolescent females, 19.4 percent. In other words, almost one every five female teens have experienced a major depressive episode.
Many people who suffer from depression don’t seek treatment. And out of the ones who seek treatment, many are not helped by these treatments. Typically, treatment is medication, talk therapy or both. Antidepressants are effective in treating 40-60 percent of patients. Similar success rates have been reported for psychotherapy treatments of depression (1).
Why do not treatments alleviate the suffering of more people? Is there any way we can increase the success rates of medical and non-medical treatments of depression?
[For more on this story by Marwa Azab Ph.D., go to https://www.psychologytoday.co...-do-we-get-depressed]
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