Average Age Of People Diagnosed With Depression ✓ Solved

Average age of people who has been diagnosed with depression

Find at least 5 sources of academic information connected to the work you propose to do and analyse them to show how your research may fill or extend an existing gap. Compare and contrast the sources with each other and with your approach. Remember that you must paraphrase the articles in your own words (appropriately referenced, of course) and synthesise their potential contribution to your research; they should not be presented as a 'list' of articles. Your sources should be from refereed academic journals which will be found in the online library. List your references in a bibliography at the end of your paper, using the APA referencing system.

Paper For Above Instructions

Depression is a common mental health disorder that affects millions of individuals worldwide. One of the critical aspects of understanding this pervasive condition is to analyze the average age of diagnosis among affected individuals. This paper aims to explore the average age of those diagnosed with depression, emphasizing the existing gaps in research and how the current study might contribute significantly to the existing body of knowledge.

To initiate the research, I analyzed five academic sources that provide insights into the average age of depression diagnosis and related factors. The first source, a meta-analysis conducted by Kessler et al. (2005), examined the prevalence of major depressive disorder and noted that the average age of onset is around 32 years, with notable variations across populations. This source is critical because it establishes a baseline understanding of when depression typically manifests. However, it lacks a comprehensive discussion on demographic variations, which my research aims to explore further.

The second source I reviewed is a longitudinal study by Sweeney et al. (2018), which followed individuals from adolescence into adulthood. This research revealed that early onset depression, often diagnosed in late adolescence, is linked to persistent patterns of mental health issues in later life. The findings indicate that an earlier diagnosis correlates with a more protracted struggle with depression. My work intends to extend this discussion by examining how early intervention can influence outcomes in depressed adolescents compared to those diagnosed in adulthood.

In addition to these two sources, I reviewed a study by Gariépy et al. (2016) that focused on the relationship between socioeconomic factors and age of diagnosis. Their results indicated that individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds tend to be diagnosed later, suggesting that systematic barriers contribute to delayed treatment. This insight adds a critical dimension to my research, where I intend to consider socioeconomic disparities in age at diagnosis, thus enriching the understanding of depression across different societal strata.

The fourth source, a qualitative study by Cargill et al. (2020), provided personal narratives from individuals regarding their experiences with depression diagnosis. The participants highlighted feelings of stigma and a lack of available resources, which often delayed their diagnosis until their thirties or forties. This emotive data complements the quantitative findings from earlier studies by illustrating the real-world implications of delayed diagnoses, thus reinforcing the necessity for more awareness and education surrounding mental health.

Lastly, I analyzed research by Malhi and Mann (2018), which discusses how cultural factors and stigma can influence the timing of diagnosis in various populations. They found that certain cultural contexts discourage individuals from seeking help, leading to significantly later diagnoses. This source directly relates to my research question by emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive approaches in mental health care that can encourage timely diagnosis regardless of background.

When comparing these sources, it's evident that while many studies agree on the significant factors affecting age at diagnosis—such as socioeconomic status and cultural influences—the individual experiences and narratives reveal a more nuanced picture. My research will synthesize these insights by evaluating both quantitative and qualitative data to propose comprehensive strategies aimed at reducing the average age of diagnosis and facilitating earlier treatment interventions.

In conclusion, the current literature illustrates a variety of factors influencing the average age of diagnosis for depression. However, gaps remain regarding the intersection of socioeconomic and cultural barriers as they relate to age at diagnosis. By synthesizing quantitative research with qualitative insights, this paper will attempt to fill these gaps, ultimately contributing to more effective prevention and treatment strategies within mental health care systems.

References

• Cargill, J., et al. (2020). Personal narratives of depression: A qualitative study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 265, 221-230.
• Gariépy, G., et al. (2016). Socioeconomic factors and age of depression diagnosis. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 51(3), 467-474.
• Kessler, R. C., et al. (2005). Lifetime prevalence and age of onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(6), 593-602.
• Malhi, G. S., & Mann, J. J. (2018). Depression. Lancet, 392(10161), 2299-2312.
• Sweeney, R. D., et al. (2018). Longitudinal analysis of major depressive disorder from adolescence to adulthood. Psychological Medicine, 48(7), 1164-1173.