Global, Regional, and National Burdens of Major Depressive Disorder and Dysthymia in Adolescents and Young Adults Aged 10–24 Years from 1990 to 2019: A Trend Analysis Based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Abstract

Objective The objective was to assess trends in the burdens of major depressive disorder (MDD) and dysthymia among adolescents and young adults aged 10–24 years from 1990 to 2019 at the global, regional, and national levels. Methods This study was based on average annual percentage changes in the incidence and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for MDD and dysthymia among young people aged 10–24 years. We analyzed global trends by age, sex, and sociodemographic index (SDI). Joinpoint regression was used to analyze global annual change trends. Results Between 1990 and 2019, the incidence of MDD in adolescents and young adults decreased by 0.1% per year, while the incidence of dysthymia increased by 0.2% per year. The greatest increase in the incidence of MDD and dysthymia was observed in the group aged 10–14 years and in the group aged 15–19 years, respectively. The greatest increase in the incidence of and DALYs for MDD was observed in high-SDI countries, while the greatest increase in dysthymia was observed in low-middle-SDI countries. In 2019, the incidence rates of MDD and dysthymia in females were 1.7 times and 1.5 times greater than those in males, respectively. Conclusions Over a 30-year period, the global incidence of MDD in adolescents and young adults did not decrease significantly, and the incidence of dysthymia increased significantly. The results indicate an urgent need for targeted screening for depressive disorders.