Mood Disorders

Mood disorders include  major depressive disorder ,  dysthymic disorder , and  bipolar disorder.

Approximately 20.9 million American adults, or about 9.5 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year, have a mood disorder.

The median age of onset for mood disorders is 30 years.

Depressive disorders often co-occur with anxiety disorders and substance abuse.

Major Depressive Disorder

Major Depressive Disorder is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for ages 15-44.

Major depressive disorder affects approximately 14.8 million American adults, or about 6.7 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year.

While major depressive disorder can develop at any age, the median age at onset is 32.

Major depressive disorder is more prevalent in women than in men.

Dysthymic Disorder

Symptoms of dysthymic disorder (chronic, mild depression) must persist for at least two years in adults (one year in children) to meet criteria for the diagnosis. Dysthymic disorder affects approximately 1.5 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year. This figure translates to about 3.3 million American adults.

The median age of onset of dysthymic disorder is 31.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder affects approximately 5.7 million American adults, or about 2.6 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year.

The median age of onset for bipolar disorders is 25 years.

Also see other treatments. Statistics taken from nimh.nih.gov