Quote:
Originally Posted by Xenophon
Cite, please? I'd be thoroughly shocked if the percentage was anywhere near that high.
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In the United States a 2005 independent report stated that 11% of women and 5% of men in the non-institutionalized population (2002) take antidepressants
[27] A 1998 survey found that 67% of patients diagnosed with depression were prescribed an antidepressant.
[28] A 2007 study purports that 25% of Americans were overdiagnosed with depression, regardless of any medical intervention.
most data seems to rely on a 2002 aggregate for the then-past decade
news articles say silly stuff like this about it:
Between 1995 and 2002, the most recent year for which statistics are available, the use of these drugs rose 48 percent, the CDC reported.
Many psychiatrists see this statistic as good news -- a sign that finally Americans feel comfortable asking for help with psychiatric problems.
"Depression is a major public health issue," said Dr. Kelly Posner, an assistant professor at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. "The fact that people are getting the treatments they need is encouraging."
So yes, not quite 20% (a figure I put down more to express my disbelief over the fact that so many people would be depressed nowadays than to be accurate.), but still between 20-35 million people.