So happy our #depression simulation model is finally published in @AmJPrevMed! Worked with a team of stellar colleagues @umichsph to make it happen: Thanks Rafael Meza, Briana Mezuk & Kara Zivin @kzivin! @YaleSPH https://t.co/a85ixpb9Sp
— Jamie Tam (@jamie_tam) July 30, 2020
The incidence of major depressive disorder among U.S. adults is likely higher than previously thought according to a study from the Yale School of Public Health. A national survey revealed that 17% of women and 10% of men self-reported a history of major depressive episodes. But there is the tendency for “recall error” or the likelihood of forgetting or miscounting when taking a survey if your health history is complicated. So, researchers created a simulation model to generate an estimate, which revealed that in all likelihood close to 30% of women and 17% of men actually have had depressive episodes.
If you think about chronic health conditions like heart disease, we do a lot to identify people who might be at risk for additional health events like heart attacks because that group would benefit from maintenance treatment and clinical monitoring. … [I]f we’re able to assess how many people actually have histories of depression, that also tells us that more people are at risk of experiencing more depressive episodes. — Jamie Tam, PhD, study author
