NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 377 ■ September 2020

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

Antidepressant Use Among Adults: United States, 2015–2018

Debra J. Brody, M.P.H., and Qiuping Gu, M.D., Ph.D.

Key findings

Data from the National 

Health and Nutrition 

Examination Survey 

● During 2015–2018, 13.2% 

of adults aged 18 and over used 

antidepressant medications 

in the past 30 days. Use was 

higher among women (17.7%) 

than men (8.4%). 

● Antidepressant use increased 

with age, overall and in both 

sexes—use was highest 

among women aged 60 and 

over (24.3%).

● Antidepressant use was 

higher among non-Hispanic 

white (16.6%) adults compared 

with non-Hispanic black 

(7.8%), Hispanic (6.5%), 

and non-Hispanic Asian 

(2.8%) adults.

● Antidepressant medication 

use was higher for adults with 

at least some college education 

(14.3%) compared with those 

with a high school education 

(11.5%) or less (11.4%).

● From 2009–2010 through 

2017–2018, the percentage of 

adults who used antidepressants 

increased among women, 

but not men.

In 2018, an estimated 7.2% of American adults had a major depressive episode 

in the past year (1). Depression is associated with diminished quality of life 

and increased disability (2). Antidepressants are one of the primary treatments 

for depression (3) and are among the most frequently used therapeutic 

medications in the United States (4). 

This data brief provides recent prevalent estimates for antidepressant use 

among U.S. adults aged 18 and over, by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin, 

and education. Trends in antidepressant use over the decade from 2009–2010 

through 2017–2018 are described.

During 2015–2018, what percentage of adults used 

antidepressants in the past 30 days?

During 2015–2018, 13.2% of adults used antidepressants in the past 30 days 

(Figure 1). Use was higher among women (17.7%) than men (8.4%). 

0

5

10

15

20

13.2

14.4

17.7

10.3

20.1

7.9 8.4

5.5

8.4

19.0

12.8

25 24.3

Women Men1,2 1 Both sexes1

Percent

Figure 1. Percentage of adults aged 18 and over who used antidepressant medication over past 

30 days, by age and sex: United States, 2015–2018

1Significant increasing trend by age. 

2Significantly lower than women in the same age group.

NOTE: Access data table for Figure 1 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db377-tables-508.pdf#1.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015–2018. 

18 and over 18–39 40–59 60 and over

NCHS reports can be downloaded from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/index.htm.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 377 ■ September 2020

■  2  ■

The percentage of antidepressant use increased with age, from 7.9% among adults aged 18–39 

to 14.4% for those aged 40–59 to 19.0% for those aged 60 and over. A similar increase in the 

use of antidepressant medications by age was observed for men and women. Among men, use 

was lowest among those aged 18–39 (5.5%) and highest among those aged 60 and over (12.8%). 

Among women, use rose from 10.3% among those aged 18–39 to 24.3% among those aged 60 

and over. 

In all age groups, antidepressant use was higher among women compared with men. 

Was there a difference in antidepressant use in the past 30 days by race 

and Hispanic origin and sex?

The percentage of antidepressant use in the past 30 days was highest among non-Hispanic white 

adults (16.6%) compared with non-Hispanic black (7.8%), Hispanic (6.5%), and non-Hispanic 

Asian (2.8%) adults (Figure 2). Use was also higher among non-Hispanic black and Hispanic 

adults compared with non-Hispanic Asian adults.

Among men, use was highest among non-Hispanic white (10.5%) compared with non-Hispanic 

black (5.0%), Hispanic (4.0%), and non-Hispanic Asian (2.1%) men. Use did not differ 

significantly among non-Hispanic black and Hispanic men, nor among non-Hispanic Asian and 

Hispanic men.

Figure 2. Percentage of adults aged 18 and over who used antidepressant medication over past 30 days, by race and 

Hispanic origin and sex: United States, 2015–2018

1Significantly higher than non-Hispanic black. 

2Significantly higher than non-Hispanic Asian. 

3Significantly higher than Hispanic. 

4Significantly lower than women in same race or Hispanic-origin group.

NOTES: Persons who reported other race, or more than one race are not included in the figure. Access data table for Figure 2 at: 

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db377-tables-508.pdf#2.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015–2018. Percent

0

5

10

15

1–316.6

27.8 26.5

2.8 2.1

3.4 44.0

2,45.0

210.0 28.9

1–410.5

1–322.3

20

25

Both sexes Men Women

Non-Hispanic white Non-Hispanic black Non-Hispanic Asian Hispanic
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 377 ■ September 2020

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A similar pattern in antidepressant use by race and Hispanic origin was observed among women, 

although use was higher among Hispanic women (8.9%) than non-Hispanic Asian women (3.4%). 

Use was highest among non-Hispanic white women (22.3%).

The percentage of antidepressant use was higher among women than men for all race and 

Hispanic origin groups except among non-Hispanic Asian adults, where the difference did not 

reach significance.

Did antidepressant use in the past 30 days vary by level of education and 

sex? 

Overall, the percentage of adults who took antidepressants in the past 30 days was lower among 

those with less than a high school (11.4%) or a high school (11.5%) education compared with 

those who attended college (14.3%) (Figure 3). This same pattern was observed among men, 

with the highest use among those with at least some college education (9.6%). Among women, 

antidepressant use did not differ significantly by level of education. 

Across all levels of education, the percentage of antidepressant use was higher among women 

than men. 

Figure 3. Percentage of adults aged 18 and over who used antidepressant medication over past 30 days, by education 

level and sex: United States, 2015–2018

1Significantly lower than some college or more. 

2Significantly lower than women at the same education level.

NOTES: GED is general equivalency diploma. Access data table for Figure 3 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db377-tables-508.pdf#3. 

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015–2018. Percent

0

5

10

15

20

25

Men Women 2 Both 

111.4 111.5

16.6 16.6

9.6

14.3

16.7 16.6

18.3

Less than high school graduate High school graduate or GED Some college or more
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 377 ■ September 2020

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What were the trends in antidepressant use from 2009–2010 through 

2017–2018?

Overall, during the decade between 2009–2010 and 2017–2018, antidepressant use increased 

from 10.6% to 13.8% (Figure 4). 

A significant increasing trend was observed for women from 2009–2010 through 2017–2018 in 

antidepressant use during the past 30 days (from 13.8% to 18.6%), but not for men (from 7.1% to 

8.7%). The percentage of women taking antidepressant medication was higher than in men at all 

points over the 10-year period.

Figure 4. Trends in antidepressant use over past 30 days among adults aged 18 and over, by sex: United States, 

2009–2018

1Significantly increasing linear trend.

2Significantly higher percentage than men in all years.

NOTE: Access data table for Figure 4 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db377-tables-508.pdf#4.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009–2018. Percent

Survey years

0

5

10

15

20

25

2009–2010 2011–2012 2013–2014 2015–2016 2017–2018

Women1,2

Men

Both sexes1
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 377 ■ September 2020

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Summary

During 2015–2018, 13.2% of Americans aged 18 and over reported taking antidepressant 

medication in the past 30 days. Antidepressant use was higher among women than men in every 

age group. Use increased with age, in both men and women. Almost one-quarter of women aged 

60 and over (24.3%) took antidepressants.

Antidepressant use was lowest among non-Hispanic Asian adults, and use among Hispanic and 

non-Hispanic black adults was lower than among non-Hispanic white adults. More than 1 in 5 

non-Hispanic white women took antidepressants in the past 30 days (22.3%). 

Overall and among men, antidepressant use was higher among those with some college education 

compared with those having a high school degree or less. Among women, the pattern was the 

same, although the differences did not reach significance. 

Over the decade from 2009–2010 through 2017–2018, the percentage of adults using 

antidepressants increased. This rise in use was observed among women, but not men.

Definition

Antidepressant medication: During the household interview, participants were asked if they 

had taken any prescription drug in the past 30 days. Those who answered “yes” were asked 

to show the interviewer the medication containers of all prescription drugs. For each drug 

reported, the interviewer recorded the product’s complete name from the container or pharmacy 

list, if available. Prescription drugs were classified based on the three-level nested therapeutic 

classification scheme of Cerner Multum’s Lexicon (5). Antidepressants were identified using 

the second level of drug ingredient categorical codes, specifically code 249. A combination of 

bupropion and naltrexone, which is primarily used for obesity, overweight, and weight-related 

medical problems, was excluded. 
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Data source and methods

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is a continuous survey 

conducted to assess the health and nutrition of Americans. The survey is designed to be nationally 

representative of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. Survey participants complete 

a household interview and visit a mobile examination center for a standardized physical 

examination. 

NHANES data from 2009–2010 through 2017–2018 were used for these analyses (6). NHANES 

2015–2018 data were used to estimate the proportion of antidepressant use by demographic 

characteristics. Five 2-year cycles (2009–2018) were used to test for trends. Of the 11,848 adults 

aged 18 and over who participated in the household interview during NHANES 2015–2018, 

11,704 persons had information on prescription medication use. Interview weights, which account 

for the differential probabilities of selection, nonresponse, and noncoverage, were used for all 

analyses. Standard errors of the percentages were estimated using Taylor series linearization, a 

method that incorporates the sample design and weights.

Differences between men and women, and for race and Hispanic-origin subgroups, were tested 

using a t statistic at the p < 0.05 significance level. Linear trends were tested using orthogonal 

contrast matrices. All differences reported are statistically significant unless otherwise indicated. 

Reported estimates meet NCHS reliability standards (7). Data analyses were performed using 

SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, N.C.) and SUDAAN version 11.1 (RTI International, 

Research Triangle Park, N.C.).

About the authors

Debra J. Brody and Qiuping Gu are with the National Center for Health Statistics, Division of 

Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 377 ■ September 2020

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References

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Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. 2019. Available from: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/.

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attainment to 2030 of the health-related sustainable development goals for 195 countries 

and territories: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet 

392(10159):2091–138. Available from: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/

PIIS0140-6736(18)32281-5/fulltext.

3. Cipriani A, Furukawa TA, Salanti G, Chaimani A, Atkinson LZ, Ogawa Y, et al. Comparative 

efficacy and acceptability of 21 antidepressant drugs for the acute treatment of adults with major 

depressive disorder: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. 

Lancet 391(10128):1357–66. 2018. Available from: https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/

lancet/PIIS0140-6736(17)32802-7.pdf. 

4. Martin CB, Hales CM, Gu Q, Ogden CL. Prescription drug use in the United States, 

2015–2016. NCHS Data Brief, no 334. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 

2019.

5. National Center for Health Statistics. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey: 

1988–2018 data documentation, codebook, and frequencies. Available from: https://wwwn.cdc.

gov/Nchs/Nhanes/1999-2000/RXQ_DRUG.htm.

6. National Center for Health Statistics. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey: 

Questionnaires, datasets, and related documentation. Available from: https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nchs/

nhanes/default.aspx.

7. Parker JD, Talih M, Malec DJ, Beresovsky V, Carroll M, Gonzalez JF Jr, et al. National 

Center for Health Statistics data presentation standards for proportions. National Center for 

Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 2(175). 2017.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 377 ■ September 2020

Keywords: antidepressant medication • National Health and Nutrition 

Examination Survey (NHANES)

Suggested citation

Brody DJ, Gu Q. Antidepressant use among 

adults: United States, 2015–2018. NCHS 

Data Brief, no 377. Hyattsville, MD: 

National Center for Health Statistics. 2020.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in 

the public domain and may be reproduced 

or copied without permission; citation as to 

source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health 

Statistics

Brian C. Moyer, Ph.D., Director

Amy M. Branum, Ph.D., Acting Associate 

Director for Science

Division of Health and Nutrition 

Examination Surveys

Ryne Paulose-Ram, M.A., Ph.D., Acting 

Director

Lara J. Akinbami, M.D., Acting Associate 

Director for Science

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