Reduced income, unemployment and mental health issues are more common among people who live with a loved one diagnosed with depression, new research shows.
According to a press release from the American Psychiatric Association, study lead author Paul Greenberg of the Analysis Group, a Boston-based economics consulting firm, “these findings indicate that the impact of depressive symptoms may extend beyond the affected individuals, imposing a burden on other adults in their households.”
Greenberg and his colleagues monitored the financial well-being and quality of life of around 17,000 adult Americans, with their findings published on December 27 in the Journal of Affective Disorders. Everyone answered questions about their income, jobs, health, and other matters on a typical form.
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Reports
About 1,700 of the participants lived with someone battling depression. The study showed that people living with a depressed person had, on average, $4,720 less in total annual income than people who didn’t. That’s an 11.3% average drop in income, Greenberg’s team calculated. Folks living with a person who was depressed also missed more workdays and were more likely to be unemployed.
Their quality of life appeared to suffer as well. Living with a depressed person was linked to lower scores on tests aimed at assessing mental and physical health, the study found. All of this “further supports the value of adequate treatment to address depressive symptoms for adults and reduce the spillover effect to others in their households,” Greenberg said.
Depression
It is a common mental health condition that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and changes in how you think, sleep, eat and act. There are several different types. It is treatable—usually with talk therapy, medication or both. Seeking medical help as soon as you have symptoms is essential.
Frequently asked questions
What is depression?
A prolonged sense of melancholy and a loss of interest in things and activities you used to enjoy are symptoms of this mood disorder. It may also make it difficult to eat, sleep, remember things, or think clearly. It’s acceptable to experience sadness or mourning about trying circumstances in life, including losing your job or getting divorced. However, it differs in that it contains more symptoms than just sorrow and lasts almost every day for at least two weeks.
Depressive disorders come in various forms. Major depressive illness, often known as clinical it, is sometimes referred to as “depression.” This kind of despair is the worst. In the absence of therapy, it may worsen and persist longer. In extreme circumstances, it may result in suicide or self-harm. The good news is that symptoms can be significantly improved by therapies.
Who does depression affect?
It can affect anyone, including children and adults. Women and people assigned female at birth are more likely to have it than men and people assigned male at birth. Having certain risk factors makes it more likely that you may develop it.
For example, the following conditions are associated with higher rates of depression:
- Neurodegenerative illnesses, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
- A stroke.
- Sclerosis multiplex.
- Seizures-related conditions.
- Cancer.
- Macular deterioration.
- Persistent discomfort.
How common is depression?
adults—around depression is common. Researchers estimate that nearly 7% of adults in the United States have depression every year. More than 16% of U.S. adults—around 1 in 6 people—will experience depression at some point in their lifetime. However, researchers believe that these estimates are lower than reality, as many people don’t seek medical help for symptoms of depression and don’t receive a diagnosis. Approximately 4.4% of children in the United States have depression.
How is depression treated?
Depression is one of the most treatable mental health conditions. Approximately 80% to 90% of people with depression who seek treatment eventually respond well to treatment.
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