SYDNEY, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- The vast majority of people worldwide diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) do not receive adequate treatment, an Australian-led research has found.
In a study published on Friday, researchers from the University of Queensland (UQ), Harvard University and the University of Washington analyzed data from 204 countries and regions to understand how many people with MDD, also known as clinical depression, worldwide receive adequate care.
They found that only 9 percent of people diagnosed with MDD globally in 2021 received at least the minimal adequate treatment (MAT), defined as either four visits to a medical doctor and one month of medication or eight visits with any medical or mental health professional.
The rate was higher in high-income countries at 27 percent. Only seven countries, namely Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea and Sweden, had minimal treatment coverage of 30 percent or higher, while 90 countries had coverage lower than 5 percent.
The study found that 10.2 percent of females with MDD globally receive at least the minimal necessary treatment, compared to 7.2 percent of males.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 5 percent of adults globally suffer from depression, with more women affected than men.
The WHO's Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030 set a goal of increasing service coverage for mental health conditions by at least 50 percent worldwide by 2030.
Damian Santomauro, lead author of the new study from UQ's School of Public Health and the Queensland Center for Mental Health Research, said the findings could support that goal.
"Highlighting locations and demographic groups who have the lowest treatment rates can guide prioritizing areas for intervention and resource allocation," he said.
"The data provides a baseline for tracking progress to improve treatment for major depressive disorders," he added.
The study was funded by the state government of Australia's Queensland and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. ■
