Depressive Symptoms Increased for U.S. Adults During Pandemic
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, May 7, 2025 -- The prevalence of depressive symptoms increased among U.S. adults during the pandemic, according to a research letter published online May 5 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Kosuke Inoue, M.D., Ph.D., from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, and colleagues examined changes in depressive symptoms among U.S. adults overall and across sociodemographic characteristics using 2013 to 2023 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. Participants included adults aged 20 years or older who were assessed using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire depression module. During each survey cycle, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was estimated; changes in the prevalence of depressive symptoms during (August 2021-August 2023) versus before (2013-March 2020) the pandemic were examined.
Between 2013 and 2023, 23,040 adults were surveyed. The researchers found that the observed prevalence of depressive symptoms increased from 8.2 to 12.3 percent from 2013-2020 to 2021-2023. Depressive symptom prevalence increased by 3.5 percentage points during the pandemic after adjustment and accounting for secular trends. Between 2013-2020 and 2021-2023, there was a significantly larger increase seen in the prevalence of depressive symptoms among adults aged 20 to 44 years versus those aged 65 years or older (6.0 versus 1.1 percentage points). There were no differential changes noted in depressive symptom prevalence by sex, race and ethnicity, or income.
"The growing burden of depressive symptoms suggests additional efforts are needed to increase mental health care access, including addressing the mental health workforce shortage and incentivizing participation of behavioral health practitioners in insurance plans," the authors write.
Two authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted May 2025
Further Support and Information on COVID-19
Read this next
Few Schools Screen Students For Depression, Anxiety
TUESDAY, July 22, 2025 — Fewer than one-third of American public schools are screening students for psychological problems, years after the U.S. Surgeon General declared a...
Depression Risk Greater In Some Women With Premature Menopause
FRIDAY, July 18, 2025 — Some women have a greater risk of depression as they go through premature menopause, according to a new study. Premature menopause occurs when the...
Insomniacs With Inflammation Prone To Depression
THURSDAY, July 17, 2025 — Insomniacs have a much higher risk for depression if they have chronic inflammation, a new sleep lab experiment says. Seniors with insomnia were...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.