Metropolitan and micropolitan statistical area estimates of depression and anxiety using the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 in the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the prevalence of depression and anxiety in the United States by state and MMSA.


METHODS
The 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System collected depression and anxiety data on 74 metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas (MMSAs) and 41 states/territories (n = 217,379).


RESULTS
The national prevalence of current depression, lifetime diagnosis of depression, and lifetime diagnosis of anxiety is 8.7 %, 15.7 %, and 11.3 %, respectively. There is considerable variability within and across states for all three measures. The most striking within-state difference in current depression between MMSAs is in California: 5.4 % and 11.3 %.


CONCLUSIONS
This variation in mental health at the state and MMSA levels calls for development and implementation of local programs.
Strine
Tara W
TW
Division of Adult and Community Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, Mailstop K-66, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. tws2@cdc.gov
Dhingra
Satvinder S
SS
Kroenke
Kurt
K
Qayad
Mohamed
M
Ribble
James L
JL
Okoro
Catherine A
CA
Balluz
Lina S
LS
Dube
Shanta R
SR
Lando
James
J
Mokdad
Ali H
AH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D017062:Small-Area Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult