The impact of our research
One in seven Australians will experience clinical depression in their lifetimes, and almost one in five experienced an anxiety disorder in the past year. With diagnoses of anxiety and depression on the rise, research into these disorders has never been more important.
QIMR Berghofer researchers have been running the Australian Genetics of Depression Study for more than seven years. As the world’s largest study of depression, our researchers collaborate with international scientists to identify genetic risk factors associated with depression.
We’ve collected data from more than 20,000 Australians and identified 23 genes linked to a person’s risk of developing depression. This paves the way for more tailored and effective treatments.
We’re researching what causes mood and anxiety disorders, why they run in families, and how to better diagnose them.
Our researchers have given new hope to people who experience side effects from antidepressant medication. They’ve found that genetics play an important role in whether people are impacted by headaches, insomnia, and weight gain.
About depression and anxiety
Depression is a common and serious medical illness. It affects how we feel about ourselves and can make it difficult to manage day-to-day life.
Anxiety often co-occurs with depression. While it’s normal to feel occasional anxiety or worry, anxiety that becomes more constant or interferes with your social, home or work life can be a sign of an anxiety disorder.
Depression and anxiety are complex disorders. Their development is impacted by traumatic experiences, genetic factors, temperament, and interpersonal relations.
It has been estimated that over one third of the variation in depression is due to genetic factors. Biological factors may play a greater role among recurrent and early-onset depression.
Depression affects one in five people at some stage of their lives.
Even though females report problems with depression almost twice as often as males, the number of boys and men affected by depression is substantial – 8.8% of males experience depression in their lifetime.
Between 2011 and 2012, it’s estimated that 12.1% of all visits to general practitioners within Australia were for mental health-related issues and that 42% of these visits were by men.
Symptoms of depression include:
- feeling sad, down or miserable most of the time;
- losing interest or pleasure in most of your usual activities;
- changes in weight, appetite, and sleep patterns;
- poor concentration;
- lack of energy;
- difficulty thinking.
Mental health disorders are affected by social and economic factors, as well as other health-related circumstances.
In Australia, depression affects one in seven people and anxiety affects one in six. This isn’t isolated to adults – a recent study into adolescent mental health found almost one in seven people aged 4–17 has a mental disorder.
The 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing estimated that 12% of Australians are likely to experience Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) at some point in their lives. In the past 12 months, 6.2% of participants experienced an affective disorder.
Similar rates of mental health disorders have been reported in the US.
Depression can be treated in three different ways:
- psychological
- physical
- self-help.
Different types of depression respond to different kinds of treatments. Consult a health professional before undertaking treatment.
While depression can sometimes go away by itself, it may linger or get worse if left untreated. It’s important to seek support early.
Treatment options for anxiety depend on the type of anxiety and severity of the condition. They can include:
- medicine
- psychological therapy
- lifestyle changes.