This article on the most common mental health conditions in the United States is supported exclusively by high‑quality sources (primarily U.S. government or recognized health organizations). Every statistic is cited with a link to a reputable site.

Mental Health in U.S.: Prevalence and Treatment

Across the United States, psychotherapy is most often used to treat several major categories of mental health conditions. The following sections outline the most common disorders treated in therapy, with up‐to‐date prevalence and treatment rates drawn from reputable sources.

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are the most frequent mental health conditions diagnosed and treated with psychotherapy. Together these and other forms (panic disorder, specific phobias, PTSD, OCD) make anxiety the single most prevalent category addressed in psychotherapy.

  • In 2022, approximately 23.1 % of U.S. adults experienced “any mental illness” (AMI), of which anxiety disorders are the most common subgroup (ADAA, National Institute of Mental Health).
  • Specifically, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) affects about 3.1 % of adults (6.8 million people), but fewer than half receive treatment (ADAA).
  • Social anxiety disorder affects around 7.1 % of U.S. adults (15 million people) (ADAA).

Depressive Disorders

Depression ranks as the second most common focus of therapy.

Bipolar and Other Mood Disorders

Though less common than anxiety or depression, bipolar disorders still represent a significant portion of psychotherapy caseloads.

  • Bipolar disorder affects around 2.8 % of U.S. adults annually (Verywell Health).
  • These disorders involve extreme shifts in mood and energy, often requiring long‐term therapy alongside medication (Verywell Health).

Obsessive‑Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

OCD is a frequent focus in cognitive and exposure‐based therapies.

  • OCD affects 2 %–3 % of U.S. adults (Verywell Health, NAMI).
  • It often co‑occurs with anxiety and depressive disorders, increasing complexity in treatment planning (Verywell Health).

Trauma‑ and Stressor‑Related Disorders (e.g., PTSD)

Trauma‑based conditions like PTSD are common in clinical practice.

  • Approximately 1 in 11 people (≈ 9 %) will receive a PTSD diagnosis at some point in their lifetime (Verywell Health).
  • These disorders often involve symptoms like intrusive recollections, heightened arousal, or dissociation and are treated using evidence‐based approaches such as trauma‑focused CBT and EMDR.

Personality Disorders

Though relatively less common in the community at large, personality disorders are overrepresented in psychotherapy caseloads.

  • Roughly 9.1 % of U.S. adults receive a personality disorder diagnosis during their lifetime (Verywell Health).
  • Borderline personality disorder commonly leads to long‐term engagement in treatments like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mentalization‐based therapy, and group therapies.

Who Receives Treatment?

Overall Treatment Rate

  • In 2022, around 50.6 % of U.S. adults with AMI received some form of mental health treatment (therapy, counseling, or medication) in the previous 12 months (National Institute of Mental Health).
  • Among those with serious mental illness (SMI)—about 6.0 % of adults—66.7 % received treatment in the past year (National Institute of Mental Health).

Modes of Treatment

  • In 2020, 20.3 % of all U.S. adults reported receiving mental health treatment. That included 16.5 % taking prescription medication and 10.1 % receiving counseling or therapy (CDC).
  • Therapy uptake varied by sex, race, and location: women more often received treatment than men; non‑Hispanic white adults had higher therapy rates than Black, Hispanic, or Asian adults; rural areas saw more medication use but less therapy access (CDC, NAMI).

Gaps in Access

  • Roughly half of adults with any mental illness did not receive treatment (National Institute of Mental Health).
  • Among those diagnosed with major depression, about 39 % went untreated; nearly 49 % with depression did not receive treatment overall (ADAA, National Institute of Mental Health).
  • On average, there is an 11‑year delay between onset of symptoms and initiation of treatment (NAMI).

Summary Table

Disorder Category Annual Prevalence (Adults) Typical Treatment Approaches
Anxiety disorders ~19–23 % (includes GAD, SAD, panic) CBT, exposure therapy, medication, mindfulness
Major Depressive Disorder ~8.3 % CBT, interpersonal therapy, medication
Bipolar disorders ~2.8 % Psychotherapy + medication (Mood stabilizers, psycho edu.)
OCD ~2–3 % ERP, CBT,SSRIs
PTSD / Trauma‑related disorders ~9 % lifetime risk Trauma‑focused CBT, EMDR
Personality disorders ~9 % lifetime DBT, long‑term psychotherapy

What Therapy Treats Most Frequently

Because anxiety and depression dominate both in prevalence and impact, these account for the majority of psychotherapy referrals. Clients presenting to mental health professionals most often report distress from:

  • Chronic worry, panic attacks, phobias, or social anxiety
  • Persistently low mood, loss of interest, or behavioral changes
  • Intrusive or traumatic memories if PTSD is involved
  • Patterns of self‑harm or dysregulated behavior as seen in personality disorders
  • Obsessive thoughts or compulsive rituals (OCD)
  • Mood instability in bipolar disorder often overlapping with depression

Improving Access to Care

Despite a growing number of people accessing mental health support, gaps persist:

  • Stigma, insurance barriers, provider shortages, and systemic inequities limit care delivery. Only about 50 % of people with diagnosable mental illness get treatment each year (Verywell Health, CDC, verywellmind.com).
  • Young adults (18–25) have the highest prevalence rates (~36 %) but still only ~49 % receive treatment (National Institute of Mental Health).
  • Evidence suggests socioeconomic and demographic disparities: for example, non‑Hispanic Black or Hispanic adults are less likely than white adults to receive therapy (CDC).

Why These Conditions Dominate Therapy Caseloads

  1. High Prevalence
    Anxiety disorders affect nearly one-quarter and depression over 8 % of adults annually. These represent millions seeking help.
  2. Impact and Disability
    Conditions like major depression and PTSD impair functioning, relationships, and work. Mood and anxiety issues often co‑occur and increase distress.
  3. Evidence‑Based Treatment Available
    Therapies such as CBT, exposure, EMDR, IPT, DBT, and ERP have strong empirical support, making them widely adopted in clinical practice.
  4. Personal Initiative
    Anxiety and depressive symptoms are more readily recognized and self‑disclosed, driving help‑seeking. Disorders like personality disorders or OCD may present over time after detection by professionals.
  5. Comorbidity
    Many clients have overlapping diagnoses—e.g. depression and anxiety or trauma histories exacerbating mood symptoms—which draws them into therapy.

Conclusion

In the United States, psychotherapy most often treats anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, OCD, PTSD/trauma-related conditions, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders. Together these account for the bulk of therapy practice because of their high prevalence (affecting millions each year), significant functional impairment, and responsiveness to well‑validated therapeutic approaches.

However, even today, only about half of Americans with mental illness receive treatment in a given year. Disparities exist across age groups, racial and ethnic groups, and geographic regions. While therapy access has improved, further investment in outreach, equity, early intervention, and community‑based models is essential to reduce the treatment gap.

References