Trends in Prevalent Cases and Disability‐Adjusted Life‐Years of Depressive Disorders Worldwide: Findings From the Global Burden of Disease Study From 1990 to 2021

Depression is a primary public health challenge that affects individuals of all ages. This study aims to reveal information on spatial and temporal changes in depression by describing temporal trend differences, regional differences, and gender differences.

Utilizing data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD2021) from 1990 to 2021, we outlined the prevalence and burden of depression among 204 countries in 21 regions, including age and sex disparities, and explored the correlation between depressive burden and the sociodemographic index (SDI). The age‐standardized rates of prevalence (ASPR), disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs, age‐standardized DALY rate, ASDR), and estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) were employed to evaluate the global burden of depression.