Trends in psychological distress, depressive episodes and mental health treatment-seeking in the United States: 2001-2012

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There has been an increase in the use of mental health services in a number of industrialized countries over the past two decades with little impact on mental health status of the populations. Few studies, however, have examined recent trends in mental health status in the US. METHODS: Using data from three large general annual population surveys in the US-the National Health Interview Survey, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, and National Survey on Drug Use and Health-we examined temporal trends in non-specific psychological distress, depressive episodes and mental health treatment seeking over the 2001-2012 period. RESULTS: Prevalence of past-month significant psychol..