New Reports Highlight Depression Prevalence and Medication Use in the U.S.

New data from CDC's National Center for Health Statistics indicate that the prevalence of depression in U.S. adolescents and adults increased 60% in the past decade, according to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

The findings are featured in a new report, "Depression Prevalence in Adolescents and Adults: United States, August 2021-August 2023." This new report also shows that nearly 40% of people aged 12 and older with depression received counseling or therapy from a health professional in the previous 12 months.

A second report released today, "Characteristics of Adults Age 18 and Older Who Took Prescription Medication for Depression: United States, 2023," shows that more than 1 in 10 U.S. adults took prescription medication for depression in 2023. Women (15.3%) are more than twice as likely to take medication for depression than men (7.4%), according to data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

NHANES and NHIS provide nationally representative estimates of several health indicators and behaviors, including mental health. The reports from these two surveys highlight the prevalence of depression and medication patterns associated with depression to inform public health strategies.

Findings from the depression prevalence report include:

• The prevalence of depression was higher in females at 16% compared to males at 10.1%.
• As age increased, the prevalence of depression decreased, ranging from 19.2% of adolescents 12-19 years reporting depression in the past two weeks to 8.7% of adults 60 and older.
• 9% of adolescents and adults reported difficulty with work, home, or social activities due to their depression symptoms; 31.2% reported extreme difficulty in performing these activities.
• A higher percentage of females (43%) than males (33.2%) with depression reported receiving therapy or counseling from a mental health professional in the past year.

Analysis in the prescription medication for depression report shows:

• Adults ages 18-44 were less likely to take medication for depression than adults ages 45-64 and those ages 65-74.
• Adults with disabilities (28.2%) were nearly three times as likely to take medication for depression as those without disabilities (9.7%).
• Adults living alone were more likely to take medication for depression (14.4%) compared with adults living with others (10.9%).

Examining data from surveys with different methodologies and survey samples, such as NHANES and NHIS, enables researchers and policymakers to gain a fuller understanding of depression, addressing both its prevalence and treatment approaches across various groups of people.

The reports will be available on the NCHS web site at www.cdc.gov/nchs.

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