Prevalence, correlates and misperception of depression symptoms in the United States, NHANES 2015-2018.

•Depression is highly prevalent among US adults with 8% having clinical depression and 11.3% reporting depressed weekly.•Over two million US adults misperceived depression (a mismatch between feeling depressed and having clinical depression).•Interventions are needed to reduce depression in the US by considering socioeconomic status and lifestyle factors.