Growing Depression Risk Faces Baby Boomers

Study results showed a 12-month major depression prevalence rate of 5 percent and a lifetime major depression prevalence rate of 13 percent. These results are not all that different from those of the National Comorbidity Survey and the National Comorbidity Survey-R, which were conducted from 1990-1992 and from 2001-2002, respectively. However, they are considerably higher than the findings produced by the Epidemiologic Catchment Area study in the 1980s, which yielded figures of 3 percent and 5 percent, respectively.“ The U.S. rates of major depressive disorder are clearly higher than they were in the 1980s,” the investigators wrote.

Even after sociodemographic factors were taken into consideration, both current (within the past 12 months) and lifetime major depression were found to be significantly linked with various anxiety disorders (especially generalized anxiety disorder); various personality disorders (especially avoidant and dependent personalities), and substance dependence.

Regarding substance dependence, people with a current major depression were twice as likely to have alcohol or nicotine dependence as those without a major depression and four times as likely to have a drug dependence. Data were similar for those with a lifetime history of a major depression. Why major depression showed a stronger relationship to drug dependence than to alcohol or nicotine dependence remains to be explained, the researchers said.

By comparison, only a weak relationship between major depression and substance abuse emerged. Hasin said that she considers this finding—“that major depression had a much stronger relationship to alcohol and drug dependence than to abuse”—one of the most important to come from the study, because it underscores that substance abuse and dependence are different entities.

Finally, whereas blacks, Hispanics, and Asians were found to be significantly less at risk of a major depression than whites were, Native Americans were found to be more at risk. This latter finding appears to contradict that of another recently published study that found Native Americans to have a lower lifetime risk of major depression (Psychiatric News, October 7). However, that study was quite different in design. It compared some 3,000 individuals from two American Indian tribes with members of the general American population surveyed in the National Comorbidity Survey.