| A major survey on depression symptoms from the | | | | believe those they treat have difficulty staying with |
| National Mental Health Association (NMHA), released in | | | | their medication regimens (a number consistent with |
| July 2004, revealed a dramatic degree of progress in | | | | most studies), and half (52 percent) say those they |
| public understanding. Yet even amid this promising | | | | treat have difficulty staying with their psychotherapy |
| trend, the survey sheds light on the difficultiesThe | | | | regimens.The survey suggests many reasons why |
| NMHA survey shows a major shift in public opinion in | | | | some people don't stick with treatment. In addition to |
| the last decade about the cause of depression. A | | | | struggling with the nature and demands of the |
| majority (65 percent) of those polled who have | | | | depression symptoms, they may find the |
| never been diagnosed with depression symptoms | | | | requirements of long-term vigilance overwhelming. A |
| understand depression is a disease, and not "a state | | | | majority of doctors (70 percent) say those they |
| of mind that a person can snap out of." In 1991, only | | | | treat for depression symptoms might find adherence |
| 38 percent recognized depression as an illness.The | | | | easier if they could take medication less often. But |
| survey also sketches a troubling portrait of the | | | | medication is not the only issue. Though people with |
| socio-economic lives of some people with depression | | | | depression symptoms believe diet and exercise to be |
| symptoms. Survey respondents with depression | | | | beneficial to long-term wellness, they nevertheless |
| symptoms reported higher levels of unemployment | | | | report not adhering with these regimens either."The |
| and divorce than respondents who don't have the | | | | survey clearly shows that the fewer episodes of |
| disorder."We set out to get a snapshot of the state | | | | depression people reported, the more likely they |
| of depression and its treatment," said Michael M. | | | | were to have stayed with treatment, whatever that |
| Faenza, president and CEO of the NMHA. "The good | | | | treatment may be," said Faenza. "Facing up to this |
| news is that there is greater public understanding of | | | | illness and taking personal responsibility for its |
| depression and that people living with depression are | | | | treatment are vital. Yet some may not acknowledge |
| finding substantial relief by following their treatment | | | | and seek treatment for depression because of |
| plans. The challenging part is understanding the | | | | negative public attitudes and misperceptions."In fact, |
| degree to which public perceptions impact those in | | | | even as people with depression symptoms struggle |
| treatment," said Faenza.In this year's survey, nearly | | | | with the illness itself, they also seem to be searching |
| one in three Americans say they believe depression | | | | to determine their best course of treatment, how |
| symptoms is a state of mind. "Fifty-five percent | | | | long they should stay in treatment, what they might |
| understand the truth about depression. That is good, | | | | expect from treatment and whether they will |
| but it is not enough," said Faenza. "You'd never hear | | | | ultimately recover. As a result, more people are |
| 31 percent of the population deny that diabetes and | | | | employing a combination of techniques to get and |
| heart disease are real. Erroneous beliefs about | | | | stay well.Perceptions DivergePublic perceptions about |
| depression fuel stigma, bad public policies and poor | | | | depression symptoms often diverge significantly from |
| personal choices by those living with the illness and | | | | the perceptions of people in treatment and may |
| may impede their recovery."The survey also | | | | discourage them from seeking effective therapeutic |
| describes a strong correlation between clinical | | | | approaches. For example, the survey results showed |
| depression symptoms and diminished social and | | | | that the general public ranks regular exercise, a |
| economic circumstances for families. Survey | | | | healthy diet and psychotherapy higher than |
| respondents with depression report greater rates of | | | | medication for effectiveness in warding off future |
| divorce and unemployment than the general public. | | | | episodes of depression symptoms. In contrast, |
| What's more, respondents who have experienced | | | | doctors and people in long-term treatment rate |
| multiple depressive episodes are even more likely to | | | | staying on medication as the most effective way to |
| be divorced or unemployed. They also are more likely | | | | prevent a relapse, even as they seek the right mix |
| to have lower income and educational levels.The | | | | of psychotherapy and lifestyle choices.Perceptions |
| NMHA survey, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies | | | | also diverge when it comes to understanding what |
| LLC, comprised interviews with 500 adults currently | | | | treatment can deliver. Thirty-five percent of the |
| being treated for depression, 300 primary care | | | | general public believe that a person can be cured |
| physicians, psychiatrists and psychologists and 800 | | | | completely of depression symptoms, a belief held by |
| members of the general public.Gap Between | | | | only 12 percent of people in long-term treatment for |
| Knowledge and BehaviorSurvey respondents who are | | | | the illness. It is likely that many in this group are |
| living with depression symptoms overwhelmingly feel | | | | struggling to achieve realistic expectations for |
| that treatment, including medication, psychotherapy | | | | treatment because the majority of subjects in the |
| or both, works. (Their average self-rated symptom | | | | survey sample are in long-term treatment for multiple |
| severity dropped from 8.5 before treatment to 3.6 | | | | episodes of depression symptoms.About half of |
| within six to 12 months after starting treatment, | | | | those who experience depression symptoms will |
| using a severity scale of one to 10, with 10 being the | | | | never have another episode; half will. The findings |
| most severe.)Yet people are finding that staying with | | | | suggest that people treated for clinical depression |
| treatment is hard work. While they seem to | | | | symptoms understand the frequently episodic nature |
| understand the value of long-term treatment (in fact, | | | | of this common illness. More than three-quarters (76 |
| most respondents believe that adhering to treatment | | | | percent) believe that they will need some type of |
| is not difficult) nearly one-third (29 percent) of people | | | | treatment for the rest of their lives, and most |
| on antidepressants report skipping doses during the | | | | understand that their treatment will control, but not |
| week and nearly one-fourth (24 percent) have | | | | necessarily cure, their depression |
| difficulty attending regular psychotherapy sessions. | | | | symptoms.However, even as more people come to |
| However, physicians and psychiatrists surveyed | | | | terms with the long-term demands of depression |
| believe adherence is much lower than people in | | | | symptoms, too many still find it difficult to make a |
| treatment profess. Almost 40 percent of doctors | | | | treatment plan work for them. |