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African American patients experience less severe pain than Caucasian Americans, when in fact they report comparable pain.
Another assumption is that Hispanic/Latino Americans and African American patients are more likely to abuse drugs than
Caucasian Americans and therefore should have less access to them, when in fact they are less likely to do so. The findings
suggest, in other words, that variations in treatment are based on misconceptions rather than evidence.
DEPRESSION
It is not uncommon for people to feel blue or sad on occasion. These feelings are typically short-lived and resolve within a
couple of days. However, when someone has a
depressive disorder it interferes with daily life and
can cause pain for the individual and those close
to them.
22
Depression is one of the most common
mental health problems in the United States despite
decades of research, recognition and treatment.
Comorbidities associated with clinical depression still remain a significant public health problem in the United States.
Depression is caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental and psychological factors. A common myth about
depression is that it is “normal” for certain people to feel depressed (e.g., senior citizens, new mothers, menopausal women,
or those with a chronic illness). The truth is that depression is not a normal part of life for anyone. Signs and symptoms
associated with depression are a feeling of hopelessness and worthlessness, overeating, insomnia, restlessness, aches and
pains. There are several forms of depressive disorders. An episode can occur once in a person’s lifetime or a person could
have several episodes. Some individuals have persistent depression that lasts for at least 2 years,22 while others exhibit
symptoms that develop under unique circumstances such as seasonal, post partum and psychotic.
Depression affects approximately 14.8 million adults; and women ages 18 to 45 years old account for the largest proportion
of functional impairment of this group.
23
In 2012, an estimated 16 million adults aged 18 or older in the U.S. had at least
one major depressive episode in the past year. This represented 6.9% of all U.S. adults. According to the World Health
Organization (WHO; 2010), major depression also carries the heaviest burden of disability among mental and behavioral
disorders and accounts for 8.3% of all U.S. years lived with disability (YLDs, figure 3).
Figure 3: Percent Totals YLDs: Mental and Behavioral Disorders as a Percent of Total U.S. YLDs (2010)
In 2010, only 68% of adults (see figure 4) and 38% of adolescents with a major depressive episode received treatment for
Depression is one of the most common mental health
problems in the United States despite decades of
research, recognition and treatment.