Table 2.
Demographic characteristics and comorbid conditions in major depressive disorder survey participants (study 2). Percentages are based on the number of available cases for each question.
| Variable | Major depressive disorder survey participants (N=525) | |
| Country, n (%)a |
|
|
|
|
United States | 499 (95) |
|
|
United Kingdom | 8 (2) |
|
|
Canada | 10 (2) |
|
|
Australia | 2 (0) |
|
|
Other | 6 (1) |
| Sex (female), n (%) | 368 (74) | |
| Age (years), mean (SD) | 49.0 (12.9) | |
| Age at first diagnosis (years), mean (SD) | 29.8 (12.9) | |
| Race, n (%) |
|
|
|
|
White | 432 (87) |
|
|
Black | 15 (3) |
|
|
Other | 42 (8) |
|
|
Prefer to skip | 9 (2) |
| Education, n (%) |
|
|
|
|
Less than high school | 7 (1) |
|
|
High school graduate | 42 (8) |
|
|
Some college | 217 (44) |
|
|
Undergraduate degree | 134 (27) |
|
|
Graduate degree | 92 (18) |
|
|
Prefer to skip | 6 (1) |
| PHQ-8b score, mean (SD) | 23 (6.0) | |
| PHQ-8 (score), n (%) |
|
|
|
|
None (0-4) | 0 (0) |
|
|
Mild (5-9) | 9 (2) |
|
|
Moderate (10-14) | 47 (9) |
|
|
Moderately severe (15-19) | 103 (20) |
|
|
Severe (20-24) | 354 (67) |
|
|
Missingc | 12 (2) |
| Currently taking a medication, n (%) | 437 (87) | |
| Number of lifetime depression episodes, n (%) |
|
|
|
|
1 episode | 10 (2) |
|
|
2–3 episodes | 47 (9) |
|
|
4–5 episodes | 43 (8) |
|
|
>5 episodes | 374 (71) |
|
|
I don’t know/I prefer to skip | 51 (10) |
| Current symptom status, n (%) |
|
|
|
|
Current episode <3 months/symptoms not better | 60 (11) |
|
|
Current episode >3 months/symptoms not better | 172 (33) |
|
|
Current episode >3 months/symptoms better | 127 (24) |
|
|
No current episode/occurred in the past | 127 (24) |
|
|
Other | 22 (4) |
|
|
I don’t know/I prefer to skip | 17 (3) |
| Comorbiditiesd , n (%) |
|
|
|
|
Generalized anxiety disorder | 252 (48) |
|
|
Posttraumatic stress disorder | 224 (43) |
|
|
Panic disorder | 138 (26) |
|
|
Fibromyalgia | 137 (26) |
|
|
Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) | 99 (19) |
|
|
Hypertension | 69 (13) |
|
|
Hypothyroidism | 65 (12) |
|
|
Traumatic brain injury | 62 (12) |
|
|
Gastroesophageal reflux disease | 61 (12) |
|
|
Migraine | 57 (11) |
|
|
Irritable bowel syndrome | 55 (10) |
|
|
Bipolar disorder | 54 (10) |
|
|
Asthma | 53 (10) |
|
|
Social anxiety disorder | 51 (10) |
|
|
Osteoarthritis | 51 (10) |
aValues reflect answers reported by patients on their PatientsLikeMe profile. Country of origin was not asked directly in the survey.
bPHQ-8: patient health questionnaire (8-item).
cIn accordance with PHQ-8 scoring guidelines, patients with one or more missing item score did not receive a total score.
dValues reflect answers reported by patients on their PatientsLikeMe profile.