One in Five Americans Depressed or Unhappy
Reuters Health 8nov00

NEW YORK - A surprising number of Americans report high levels of stress, anxiety, and sadness, according to new survey results. Even though their symptoms don't meet the definition of clinical depression, they can have a significant negative impact on quality of life, according to Dr. Michael Seidman of the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan.

"This frequent low-mood group--10% of those surveyed--find their quality of life is quite stressful on a regular basis," Seidman explained in a statement issued by BASF, the company that funded the survey.

The survey involved almost 2,000 adults in six major US cities. Overall, 12% of those interviewed met the criteria for clinical depression, and 10% suffered from what Seidman calls frequent low mood. Signs of this can include difficulty sleeping, poor appetite, fatigue, difficulty in concentrating, and an ongoing case of "the blues."

The factors listed most frequently as contributing to negative mood were family issues, traffic and financial difficulties, all of which were cited by more than half of the telephone respondents. Work was also frequently mentioned as a major stressor.

The groups that reported the highest rates of low mood were people aged 18 to 24 (19%), the unemployed (18%), members of unmarried couples (17%), and women (13%).

The strategies used to cope with negative mood included quiet time, changes in eating behavior, recreational activities, exercise, and prayer or meditation.

The survey included people in New York, Washington DC, San Francisco, Houston, Minneapolis, and Phoenix. For the most part, results among the different cities were similar.