A latest researcher has revealed that only about 50% of the Americans suffering from depression end up receiving proper treatment for it, and there are certain minorities that may face even more difficulties in obtaining the treatment they need.

As per the study, only 1 in about 5 American with clinical depression receives proper treatment, which is in-line with the recommended guidelines. Also, Mexican-Americans, Caribbean blacks and African-Americans who have depression are about half as likely as the other groups to get any type of treatment or care for the condition at all.

"Although depression is a leading cause of disability in the United States, few Americans with recent major depression receive any form of standard care and even fewer receive care that is concordant with the American Psychiatric Association guideline", noted lead researcher Hector M. González, PhD, of Wayne State University in Detroit.

The recommended treatment for depression depends on a patient's personal needs and is often a combination of medicines and psychotherapy.

For the sake of study, researchers studied information from a countrywide survey of 15,762 adults which was undertaken by the National Institute of Mental Health between 2001 and 2003.

Details of the study have been published in the January issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.