Depression is the most common mental disorder in Italian population. Over 2.8 million people suffered from chronic depression during the past 12 months (5.4% people aged 15 and over in 2015). About 1.3 million people (2.5%) suffered from current major depressive symptoms during the past two weeks.<\/p>\n
In Italy depression is less widespread than in most European Countries. The prevalence is 1.7% in the age group 15-44 years old compared to 5.2% of the EU-28 average. On the contrary, the prevalence in the elderly population exceeds of 3 percent points the Eu-28 average.<\/p>\n
Depression is often associated with severe chronic anxiety. Overall, 7% of people aged 15 years and over suffered from anxiety or chronic depression during the past 12 months (3.7 million people).<\/p>\n
The prevalence of depression and severe chronic anxiety increases with age (from 5.8% at age 35-64 years to 14.9% after age 64). Compared to men, the disadvantage of women emerges in adulthood and get worse in elderly people.<\/p>\n
Low socio-economic status is associated with anxious-depressive disorders. The prevalence of depression and anxiety doubles in adults with low education compared to higher educated people and triples in the elderly (16.6% compared to 6.3%). In this latter group, however, the differences by income are less significant.<\/p>\n
For information<\/strong><\/p>\n Lidia Gargiulo Rita \u00a0De Carli Francesco Grippo
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