Depression is poorly diagnosed and often goes untreated

Using data from a survey that screened more than 46,000 Americans for depression, researchers found evidence that the condition is not properly diagnosed in many people. And even when diagnosed correctly, depression often goes untreated.

The nationwide survey was undertaken in 2012 and 2013 by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. It used a well-validated scale to determine depressed mood, and the researchers defined treatment as having visited a psychotherapist or other mental health professional or taken a psychiatric drug. The study is in JAMA Internal Medicine.

About 8.4 per cent of the people interviewed had depression. But of those, only 28.7 per cent had received any treatment. At the same time, of those who were treated for depression, only 29.9 per cent had screened positive for the disorder. Many people with less serious psychological problems were being treated with antidepressants and other psychiatric medicines. "There are challenges in aligning depression care with patient needs," said the lead author, Mark Olfson, a professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Centre.

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