Evaluating the Newer Antidepressants. Among the constellation of depressive disorders, major depressive disorder is the most prevalent, affecting more than 20.7 million people in the United States.

Antidepressant Use Growing in Primary Care. Americans are no strangers to antidepressants, according to a new study by researchers at Johns Hopkins University. During the last 20 years, the use of antidepressants has grown significantly, making them one of the most costly and the third most commonly prescribed class of medications in the United States. Most of the recent increase in antidepressant use is a consequence of the growing number of prescriptions written by physicians who are not psychiatrists4. In the United States, nearly four out of every five antidepressant prescriptions are written by such providers.

Recognizing and Treating Late Life Depression. Like diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, depression is a chronic illness that is common, recurrent, and costly. More than 57.7 million people are currently living with depression in the United States. Depression is the second leading cause of disability for all ages and the leading cause of disability and premature death in individuals aged 15 up to 44 years.

Getting Better Is Not Good Enough: Assessing and Addressing Treatment Response in Major Depressive Disorder. Up to 40% of primary care patients will seek treatment for depression at some time in their lives; 14.4% of Americans will have major depressive disorder. The economic impact of depression is significant, with annual direct costs of treatment and indirect costs due to loss of productivity estimated at $83 billion.