Adults With Depression Still Struggle Due to Lack of Information

A new survey of 2,001 adults living with depression revealed that despite being diagnosed for an average of 12 years, many unknowingly took actions that could have sabotaged their chances of getting well. Furthermore, on average, it took about six years for respondents to seek diagnosis from a health care professional, suggesting these adults may have been coping with depression for as long as 18 years.

Nearly three in five (57 percent) of those who delayed seeking a diagnosis felt they could manage their own depression symptoms. Among respondents who had taken antidepressants for depression, nearly half (47 percent) did not discuss when it might be necessary to change medications with their doctor, despite the fact that they were still experiencing depressive symptoms. Among those who have stopped taking antidepressants, about two in five (41 percent) did so without telling their doctor. More than 70 percent noted that talk therapy should always be part of a depression treatment plan, yet only 22 percent were currently enrolled in talk therapy.
"The survey strongly suggests that many people living with depression are unaware or are 'missing pieces' of vital information that may be preventing them from getting well," said Dr. Susan Kornstein, professor of psychiatry and obstetrics and gynecology at Virginia Commonwealth University. "Depression needs to be treated by a health care professional. To increase the likelihood of recovery from depression, it's important that people with depression have a comprehensive treatment plan that may include medications, psychotherapy and lifestyle changes. The goal is to help them to recovery." Depression, which includes a variety of symptoms, is a highly treatable illness, but it can become more difficult to treat the longer it goes undiagnosed or undertreated.

The survey showed that among those who waited six months or more to be diagnosed, 69 percent reported they delayed diagnosis because they lacked knowledge about depression or lacked basic facts about available depression treatments and where to go for help. Additionally, among those who wanted more information about depression treatment at the time of diagnosis, 64 percent said they wanted to know what it means to "get well.". Surprisingly, 91 percent have been prescribed an antidepressant for depression, but among them, just seven percent felt very knowledgeable about all basic aspects of the treatment.