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QuickStats: Percentage of Adults With Symptoms of Serious Psychological Distress,* by Age Group and Sex --- National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2007

Percentage of Adults With Symptoms of Serious Psychological Distress,*
by Age Group and Sex — National Health Interview Survey,
United States, 2007†
*Results are based on responses to the questions “During the past 30 days,
how often did you feel 1) so sad that nothing could cheer you up, 2) nervous, 3)
restless or fidgety, 4) hopeless, 5) that everything was an effort, or 6) worthless?”
Response codes for the six items for each person were summed to yield a
point value on a 0–24-point scale. A value of 13 or more was used to define
serious psychological distress.
† Estimates are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian,
noninstitutionalized U.S. population.
§ 95% confidence interval.

* Results are based on responses to the questions "During the past 30 days, how often did you feel 1) so sad that nothing could cheer you up, 2) nervous, 3) restless or fidgety, 4) hopeless, 5) that everything was an effort, or 6) worthless?" Response codes for the six items for each person were summed to yield a point value on a 0--24-point scale. A value of 13 or more was used to define serious psychological distress.

Estimates are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population.

§ 95% confidence interval.

In 2007, among all adults >18 years, women were significantly more likely than men to have experienced symptoms of serious psychological distress during the past 30 days. By age group, adults aged 45--64 years were more likely than adults aged >65 years to have experienced these symptoms. Overall, approximately 3% of the U.S. adult population had experienced symptoms of serious psychological distress during the past 30 days.

SOURCE: Heyman KM, Schiller JS, Barnes P. Early release of selected estimates based on data from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey. Hyattsville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, National Center for Health Statistics; 2008. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/major/nhis/released200806.htm.

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Date last reviewed: 7/9/2008

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