LESSON 3.13

Children’s Health in the U.S. – Part 1

Mental Health: MDE

  • Major depressive disorder: severe symptoms that interfere with a person’s ability to sleep, work, study, eat and enjoy life.
    • A major depressive episode (MDE) is at least 2 weeks of a depressed or irritated mood OR a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities . . . AND
    • The presence of at least 4 of 7 additional symptoms (e.g., fatigue, altered sleeping patterns, feeling worthless).
  • In 2012, 2.2 million adolescents between 12-17 years of age (9.1%) had a MDE during the previous year.
  • Adolescent girls were almost 3 times more likely than adolescent boys to have experienced a MDE.
  • Among adolescents who had a MDE, 16% reported a substance use disorder compared to 5.1% of adolescents without a MDE during the previous year.

Mental health conditions in children, especially major depressive disorder, are increasing. Almost 1 in 10 adolescents will experience a major depressive experience (or MDE) at least once, with a disproportionate number of girls having an MDE compared to boys. Substance use is also increased in those adolescents who report an MDE.