MOOD DISORDERS IN THE GENERAL-POPULATION REPRESENT AN IMPORTANT AND WORLDWIDE PUBLIC-HEALTH PROBLEM

There are now credible empirical data to support the conclusions that depressive disorders are among the most common diseases that human bei ngs experience, with approximately 11.3% of all adults afflicted by th ese disorders during any one year. In comparison to common medical ill nesses, such as diabetes, hypertension, lung diseases, etc., depressio n is associated with significantly greater physical limitations, more dysfunction in ability to perform one's social and occupational role a nd with increased bed days and poorer estimation of personal health. T he disability associated with depression is compounded and extended by the fact that depressive disorders have a high tendency toward recurr ence, relapse and chronicity. Thus, not only are patients acutely disa bled from acute episodes of major depression or dysthymia, but they te nd to be disabled for significant segments of their lifetimes by the l ifelong nature of the clinical course of the mood disorders. Further, the scientific evidence now available indicates that even subsyndromal symptomatic and minor depressions are associated with significant dis ability and dysfunction as well. Finally, the accumulation of high pre valence, the significant disability and the lifelong nature of depress ive disorders results in a palpable impact on all of the national econ omies throughout the world. It can be confidently concluded that depre ssive disorders are among the most common, disabling and costly of any of the diseases in the health care spectrum and represent significant , serious public health problems.