By 2020, depression may become the most common mental illness, reports “Interfax” with reference to the chief freelance psychiatrist of the Ministry of health, General Director of SMRC of psychiatry of a name Serbian Zurab Kekelidze.
According to the world health organization (who), 15 years ago depressive disorder was in fifth place at the prevalence of mental illness. According to Kekelidze, earlier doctors predicted that by 2020 depression will take second place in this ranking. “Unfortunately, it looks like it will come out on top,” said he.
The psychiatrist noted that the reason for the growing popularity of depression — increase in life expectancy. In particular, it often occurs on the background of chronic diseases in elderly and senile age. Kekelidze said that the number of reported cases of depressive disorders among young people remains at the same level. “Although self-awareness and awareness of mental processes in the body definitely has grown,” concluded the doctor.
In late may, “Izvestiya” wrote that, according to the analytical Agency DSM Group, in the first four months of this year, sales of antidepressants and sedatives increased by 25 percent and 11.1 percent, respectively, compared to the same period last year. According to psychiatrists, this may be due to the increased level of anxiety and aggression in society.
In September the Minister of health Veronika Skvortsova said that life expectancy in Russia has reached 72.5 years. So, men began to live a year longer — until 67.5 years, and women — 77.4 years.