Millions of Americans with clinical depression and/or generalized anxiety disorder symptoms are not being diagnosed or treated. This is the conclusion of a survey, conducted by Roper Starch Worldwide Inc., on behalf of the National Mental Health Association's (NMHA) and published on June 6, 2004.

According to the survey, only 18 percent of all adult Americans who appear to have met the diagnostic criteria for clinical depression and/or generalized anxiety disorder symptoms at some point in their lives have ever received an official diagnosis or treatment for either condition. More than 19 million Americans are affected by depression with another 4 million affected by generalized anxiety disorder symptoms annually, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

The gap between prevalence and diagnosis/treatment Symptoms are not associated with a disorder - 93 percent of undiagnosed people do not associate their depression or anxiety disorder symptoms with a mental health problem; at the same time, 44 percent of those undiagnosed say their symptoms cause significant emotional pain and restricted functioning in their daily lives.

Symptoms can be self-treated - 44 percent of undiagnosed people who would not go to a health care professional believe their depression or anxiety disorder symptoms are self-manageable; rather than seek professional treatment, many utilize self-help techniques such as prayer (41 percent), rest (38 percent), exercise (37 percent), sleep (31 percent), or emotional support from family and friends (31 percent).

Diagnosis, itself, is stigmatized - 42 percent of people with a formal diagnosis say they are embarrassed or ashamed by their depression or anxiety disorder symptoms (compared to 17 percent of those undiagnosed), and twice as many people with a formal diagnosis (16 percent, compared to eight percent who are undiagnosed) say they're afraid to talk to their friends about their mental health problems. Further, only two out of every five people with a formal diagnosis believe their symptoms mean they have a mental health disorder.

When their feelings persist, worsen, or interfere with their daily lives, many people should seek treatment. We must help people recognize when it's time to seek professional help, and then, let them know that with care, their illness can - and should - remit.

During this survey on depression and anxiety disorder symptoms, a total of 1,319 interviews were conducted in depth: 999 respondents who appeared to meet the diagnostic criteria for clinical depression and/or generalized anxiety disorder and 320 who did not meet the criteria. Every seventh adult who was asymptomatic of either illness was interviewed in depth. Of those who met the diagnostic criteria, 204 were doctor diagnosed with either illness and 795 were not.

About Depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

Clinical depression, which encompasses major depressive disorder, manic depression, and dysthymia, is one of the most common mental health disorders. Symptoms of depression include:

• persistent sad
• anxious
• or "empty" mood
• feelings of guilt
• hopelessness or worthlessness
• loss of pleasure and interest in activities once enjoyed
• restlessness or irritability; difficulty concentrating
• fatigue
• and reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain

When traditional treatments fail, you and your doctor should be aware of the first and only FDA approved long term treatment option for depression; vagus nerve stimulation therapy-a ninety minute out-patient procedure. I personally had the procedure five years ago as a study subject in the investigational trial. It changed my life.

You can learn more about this remarkable treatment at http://www.VagusNerveStimulation.com