How depressed is your state? Why are we more depressed? (depression, doctor)

[eddiehaskell]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbs...is-your-state/

Major depression is on the rise among Americans and certain groups and parts of the country have been hit harder than others, according to a new report from Blue Cross Blue Shield of America.

The data looks at medical claims from Blue Cross Blue Shield members from 2013 to 2016 and found a 33 percent jump in diagnosis of major depression over that time. In total, more than 9 million commercially insured people across the United States suffer from major depression, the report estimates.

Once again cell phones are mentioned as a possible factor for increased depression. Perhaps our next crisis isn’t something economic, environmental or war...maybe it’s just not giving a damn about anything.

[cebuan]

There is no empirical test for depression. It is a subjective diagnosis.


Statistically, what might be on the increase may simply be the number of patients for whom doctors rely on andi-depressant medications. Which, for all we know, simply reflects the zeal with which pharmaceutical marketing strategies are pushing such drugs. Or, in all fairness, the actual effectiveness of such drugs, which would encourage more doctors to diagnose and prescribe accordingly. Hence, the statistical increase in reported depression. Shifting a lot of borderline cases over the line to actually medicated patients.

[Hemlock140]

At just 5% I am pleasantly surprised, people are always complaining about depression from our weather.