Rates and risks of depressive symptoms in a United States urban community

Abstract

The results of a U.S. urban community survey, conducted in 1967 and in 1969, show that 16–18 % of the population have depressive symptoms at any one time. Similar rates are reported in five other studies where self‐report depression symptom scales have been used. The relationship between depressive symptoms and the diagnosis of major depressive disorders still requires investigation since the presence of depressive symptoms does not necessarily indicate the diagnosis of a major or minor depressive disorder.