Researchers discovered that nearly 5 percent of the U.S. population suffer from constant depression or anxiety disorders.

The study found that found that only 12 percent of individuals with these illnesses actually get the appropriate treatment of both medication and counseling.

"From a policy perspective, this study indicates that we have to do much better in terms of helping people in the population and clinicians in primary care," said Dr. Alexander S. Young, lead author in the study. "We need to understand that psychiatric disorders are treatable with psychotherapy and/or medication."

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles analyzed survey responses from 1,642 adults with depression or anxiety.

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