What is the epidemiology of mental illness?
Mental illness is a universal disease that affects the people and families and brings burden to the society. Depending to the current epidemiological data, annually, one out five people has a diagnosable mental illness. Because of the alterations of the disease definition, the past epidemiological data indicates a far high percentage than today.
(Refer to early 1950’s epidemiological data for NYC).
With the support of advanced research and development the definition of mental illness became more restrictive, thus studies have shown lower rates of incidence. Today among the US adult population, estimations indicate almost 20 percent of people are affected by mental illness annually.
Estimations are based on ECA and NCS studies which was conducted in 80’s and 90’s. The epidemiological data for children and adolescents is not well documented as adults. Current estimates show that almost 20 percent of the children population have mental illness as least at a mild stage.
Please find below the epidemiological data and its fragmentation over 55 years old population.
(Ref: D. Regier, W. Narrow, & D. Rae, personal communication, 1999)
| Mental Disorders | Prevalence (%) |
| Schizophrenia | 0.6 |
| Unipolar Major Depression | 3.7 |
| Social Phobia | 1.0 |
| Any Anxiety Disorder | 11.4 |
| Any Mood Disorder | 4.4 |
| Somatization | 0.3 |
| Dysthymia | 1.6 |
| Simple Phobia | 7.3 |
| Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder | 1.5 |
| Anorexia Nervosa | 0.0 |
| Bipolar-I | 0.2 |
| Bipolar-II | 0.1 |
| Severe Cognitive Impairment | 6.6 |
| Panic Disorder | 0.5 |
| Antisocial Personality Disorder | 0.0 |
| Agoraphobia | 4.1 |
| Major Depressive Episode | 3.8 |
| Unipolar Major Depression | 3.7 |
| Any Disorder | 19.8 |
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