MDD is a highly heterogeneous disorder characterized
by episodes that can ebb and flow over time1
Longitudinal course of MDD5
HAMD-17, 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale; MDE, major depressive episode.*
Chart adapted from Severe et al.
Each major depressive episode is characterized by a period of depressive symptoms lasting ≥2 weeks involving clear-cut negative changes in affect and impaired cognitive and physical function.1
How many unique symptom profiles are there?
With more than 1,000 possible unique symptom profiles, few patients with MDD
will experience the same symptoms or severity.6†
Did you know?
- MDD may present as a single depressive episode or recurrent episodes1*
- Recurrent major depressive episodes are experienced by patients with MDD in a majority of cases7,8
*According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision, a major depressive episode is a primary component of MDD but differs from MDD in that MDD cannot be better explained by a psychotic disorder and there has never been a manic or hypomanic episode.1
†Based on a 2015 analysis of the number of unique symptom profiles reported by 3,703 depressed outpatients at the beginning of the first treatment stage of the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study.6
~21 MILLION US adults aged ≥18 years experienced a major depressive episode* in 2021.9‡
~21
MILLION
US adults aged ≥18 years experienced a major depressive episode* in 2021.9‡
*According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision, a major depressive episode is a primary component of MDD but differs from MDD in that MDD cannot be better explained by a psychotic disorder and there has never been a manic or hypomanic episode.1
‡National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) prevalence estimates based on sample size of N=56,610.9
MDD is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide10
- MDD is a growing global health and economic burden that may lead to impaired functioning and diminished quality of life11-13
- In 2018, people with MDD made up ~8% of unemployed US adults12§
§Based on the NSDUH, a national probability sample of the US adult civilian, noninstitutionalized population, used to compare prevalence rates of MDD by sex, age, employment, and treatment status for 2010 and 2018.12
§Based on the NSDUH, a national probability sample of the US adult civilian, noninstitutionalized population, used to compare prevalence rates of MDD by sex, age, employment, and treatment status for 2010 and 2018.12
80% of patients with depression reported that symptoms of depression interfered with their ability to maintain a home, be socially active, or to work2-4||
||According to an analysis of 11,062 US adult patients aged 20 and over diagnosed with depression in the 2013–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES).2-4
MDD infographic
Download MDD infographic
Looking for more information? Check out the infographic for a quick reference guide on the heterogeneity in depression and unmet needs that still exist today.
Understand the burden of PPD
Discover the differences
Now that you’ve explored the impact of MDD, see how the burden of PPD is distinct.
What challenges are patients suffering from MDD experiencing?
See the unmet needs
Review the challenges patients face and what the current state of depression looks like.
What other mechanisms are involved in depression?
Analyze the science
Explore the complexities underlying depression that may offer new perspectives in your approach to managing depression.
References: 1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (Fifth Edition, Text Revised). 2022. 2. Brody DJ, Pratt LA, Hughes JP. Prevalence of depression among adults aged 20 and over: United States, 2013-2016. NCHS Data Brief. No. 303. February 2018. 3. CDC.gov. Unweighted Response Rates for NHANES 2013-2014 by Age and Gender. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/response_rates_cps/2013_2014_response_rates.pdf. Accessed February 8, 2023. 4. CDC.gov. Unweighted Response Rates for NHANES 2015-2016 by Age and Gender. https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes3/ResponseRates/2015-2016_response_rates.pdf. Accessed February 8, 2023. 5. Severe J, Greden JF, Reddy P. Consequences of recurrence of major depressive disorder. Is stopping effective antidepressant medications ever safe?. Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2020;18(2):120-128. 6. Fried EI, Nesse RM. Depression is not a consistent syndrome: an investigation of unique symptom patterns in the STAR*D study. J Affect Disord. 2015;172:96-102. 7. Rush AJ, Trivedi MH, Wisniewski SR, et al. Acute and longer-term outcomes in depressed outpatients requiring one or several treatment steps: a STAR*D report. Am J Psychiatry. 2006;163(11):1905-1917. 8. Burcusa SL, Iacono WG. Risk for recurrence in depression. Clin Psychol Rev. 2007;27(8):959-981. 9. SAMHSA. 2021 NSDUH Detailed Tables. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2021-nsduh-detailed-tables. Published January 4, 2023. Accessed February 8, 2023. 10. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression. Accessed January 3, 2023. 11. Santomauro DF, Herrera AM, Shadid J, et al. Global prevalence and burden of depressive and anxiety disorders in 204 countries and territories in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet. 2021;398(10312):1700-1712. 12. Greenberg PE, Fournier AA, Sisitsky T, et al. The economic burden of adults with major depressive disorder in the United States (2010 and 2018). Pharmaco Economics. 2021;39(6):653-665. 13. IsHak WW, Mirocha J, James D, et al. Quality of life in major depressive disorder before/after multiple steps of treatment and one-year follow-up. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2015;131(1):51-60.