Major depressive disorder

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What is major depressive disorder?

Major depressive disorder, also known as clinical depression, is marked by depressed mood, inactivity, lack of interest, insomnia, feelings of worthlessness, diminished ability to think, and may include thoughts of suicide.



Common symptoms reported by people with major depressive disorder

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
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Treatments taken by people for major depressive disorder

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Wellbutrin)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
16125
Tried for
major depressive disorder (143)
Treatment name(s)

(Cymbalta)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
11841
Tried for
major depressive disorder (108)
Treatment name(s)

(Zoloft)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
19158
Tried for
major depressive disorder (98)
Treatment name(s)

(Effexor XR)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
15517
Tried for
major depressive disorder (91)
Treatment name(s)

(Talk therapy)
Type
Psychotherapy
How many have tried
23617
Tried for
major depressive disorder (73)
Treatment name(s)

(Lexapro)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
10567
Tried for
major depressive disorder (70)
Treatment name(s)

(Prozac)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
18401
Tried for
major depressive disorder (58)
Treatment name(s)

(Celexa)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
10829
Tried for
major depressive disorder (30)

Data from patients with major depressive disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
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Compare treatments taken by people with major depressive disorder

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Wellbutrin)
Perceived effectiveness
for major depressive disorder (69 evaluations)
Side effects
nausea anxious mood 44 more
Total evaluations
71
Tried for
major depressive disorder (143)
Treatment name(s)

(Cymbalta)
Perceived effectiveness
for major depressive disorder (57 evaluations)
Side effects
dry mouth decreased sex drive (libido) 25 more
Total evaluations
58
Tried for
major depressive disorder (108)
Treatment name(s)

(Zoloft)
Perceived effectiveness
for major depressive disorder (42 evaluations)
Side effects
weight gain decreased appetite 45 more
Total evaluations
44
Tried for
major depressive disorder (98)
Treatment name(s)

(Effexor XR)
Perceived effectiveness
for major depressive disorder (49 evaluations)
Side effects
nausea dizziness 42 more
Total evaluations
49
Tried for
major depressive disorder (91)
Treatment name(s)

(Talk therapy)
Perceived effectiveness
for major depressive disorder (22 evaluations)
Side effects
emotional lability feeling abandoned 4 more
Total evaluations
24
Tried for
major depressive disorder (73)
Treatment name(s)

(Lexapro)
Perceived effectiveness
for major depressive disorder (33 evaluations)
Side effects
brain fog decreased sex drive (libido) 33 more
Total evaluations
33
Tried for
major depressive disorder (70)
Treatment name(s)

(Prozac)
Perceived effectiveness
for major depressive disorder (35 evaluations)
Side effects
headaches nausea 19 more
Total evaluations
37
Tried for
major depressive disorder (58)
Treatment name(s)

(Celexa)
Perceived effectiveness
for major depressive disorder (29 evaluations)
Side effects
dizziness bruising 4 more
Total evaluations
29
Tried for
major depressive disorder (30)
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

Data from patients with major depressive disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
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Who has major depressive disorder on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 95 new patients joined this month
  • 33599 say MDD is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 132
20s 3256
30s 8406
40s 13466
50s 17328
60s 13582
70+ 4230
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 8858
20-29 years 3723
30-39 years 2743
40-49 years 1752
50-59 years 610
60-69 years 116
70+ years 21

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 12629
Female 47988

Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 23961
Not Diagnosed 2340

These charts show data from MDD patients who have completed their condition history
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