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Life is full of emotional ups and downs. But when the "down" times are long lasting
or interfere with your ability to function, you may be suffering from a common,
serious mental disorder: depression. Clinical depression affects mood, mind, body,
and behavior. Research has shown that in the United States about 19 million people
--one in ten adults--experience depression each year, and. Although treatment can
alleviate the symptoms in over 80 percent of the cases, nearly two-thirds do not get
the help they need.
Because it often goes unrecognized and/or untreated, depression
continues to cause unnecessary suffering. Depression is a pervasive and impairing mental
disorder that affects both women and men--however, it seems women experience
depression at roughly twice the rate of men. Researchers continue to explore how
special issues unique to women-biological, life cycle, and psycho-social-may be associated
with women's higher rate of depression.
No two people become depressed in exactly the same way. Many people have o要ly some
of the symptoms, varying in severity and duration. For some, symptoms occur in time-limited
episodes, for others, symptoms can be present for long periods if no treatment is sought.
Having some depressive symptoms does not mean a person is clinically depressed. For example,
it is not unusual for those who have lost a loved o要e to feel sad, helpless, and disinterested
in regular activities. o要ly when these symptoms persist for an unusually long time is there
reason to suspect that grief has become depressive illness.
Similarly, living with the stress of potential layoffs, heavy workloads, or financial or family
problems may cause irritability and "the blues." Up to a point, such feelings are simply a part
of human experience. But when these feelings increase in duration and intensity and an
individual is unable to function as usual, what seemed a temporary mood may have become
a clinical illness.
The Types of Depressive Disorders
1. In major depression, sometimes referred to as unipolar or clinical depression, people have
some or all of the symptoms listed below for at least 2 weeks but frequently for several months
or longer. Episodes of the illness can occur o要ce, twice, or several times in a lifetime.
2. In dysthymia, the same symptoms are present though milder and last at least 2 years.
People with dysthymia are frequently lacking in zest and enthusiasm for life, living a joyless
and fatigued existence that seems almost a natural outgrowth of their personalities. They
also can experience major depressive episodes.
3. Manic-depression, or bipolar disorder, is not nearly as common as other forms of depressive
disorders and involves disruptive cycles of depressive symptoms that alternate with mania.
During manic episodes, people may become overly active, talkative, euphoric, irritable, spend
money irresponsibly, and get involved in sexual misadventures. In some people, a milder form
of mania, called hypomania, alternates with depressive episodes. Unlike other mood disorders,
women and men are equally vulnerable to bipolar disorder; however, women with bipolar
disorder tend to have more episodes of depression and fewer episodes of mania or hypomania.
Women are at Greater Risk for Depression Than Men
Major depression and dysthymia affect twice as many women as men. This two-to-one ratio
exists regardless of racial and ethnic background or economic status. The same ratio has been
reported in ten other countries all over the world. Men and women have about the same rate
of bipolar disorder (manic-depression), though its course in women typically has more depressive
and fewer manic episodes. Also, a greater number of women have the rapid cycling form of
bipolar disorder, which may be more resistant to standard treatments.
A variety of factors unique to women's lives are suspected to play a role in developing depression.
Research is focused o要 understanding these, including: reproductive, hormonal, genetic or other
biological factors; abuse and oppression; interpersonal factors; and certain psychological and
personality characteristics. And yet, the specific causes of depression in women remain unclear;
many women exposed to these factors do not develop depression. What is clear is that regardless
of the contributing factors, depression is a highly treatable mental disorder.
The Many Dimensions of Depression in Women
Investigators are focusing o要 the following areas in their study of depression in women:
The Issues of Adolescence
Before adolescence, there is little difference in the rate of depression in boys and girls. But
between the ages of 11 and 13 there is a precipitous rise in depression rates for girls. By the
age of 15, females are twice as likely to have experienced a major depressive episode as males.
This comes at a time in adolescence when roles and expectations change dramatically.
The stresses of adolescence include forming an identity, emerging sexuality, separating from
parents, and making decisions for the first time, along with other physical, intellectual, and
hormonal changes. These stresses are generally different for boys and girls, and may be
associated more often with depression in females. Studies show that female high school
students have significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders,
and adjustment disorders than male students, who have higher rates of disruptive behavior
disorders.
Adulthood: Relationships and Work Roles
Stress in general can contribute to depression in persons biologically vulnerable to the illness.
Some have theorized that higher incidence of depression in women is not due to greater vulnerability,
but to the particular stresses that many women face.
These stresses include major responsibilities at home and work, single parenthood, and caring for
children and aging parents. How these factors may uniquely affect women is not yet fully
understood. For both women and men, rates of major depression are highest among the separated
and divorced, and lowest among the married, while remaining always higher for women than for men.
The quality of a marriage, however, may contribute significantly to depression. Lack of an intimate,
confiding relationship, as well as overt marital disputes, have been shown to be related to depression
in women. In fact, rates of depression were shown to be highest among unhappily married women.
Reproductive Events
Women's reproductive events include the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, the post pregnancy period,
infertility, menopause, and sometimes, the decision not to have children. These events bring
fluctuations in mood that for some women include depression. Researchers have confirmed that
hormones have an effect o要 the brain chemistry that controls emotions and mood; a specific
biological mechanism explaining hormonal involvement is not known, however.
Many women experience certain behavioral and physical changes associated with phases of their menstrual
cycles. In some women, these changes are severe, occur regularly, and include depressed feelings, irritability,
and other emotional and physical changes. Called premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric
disorder (PMDD), the changes typically begin after ovulation and become gradually worse until menstruation
starts. Scientists are exploring how the cyclical rise and fall of estrogen and other hormones may affect
the brain chemistry that is associated with depressive illness.
Postpartum mood changes can range from transient "blues" immediately following childbirth to an episode
of major depression to severe, incapacitating, psychotic depression. Studies suggest that women who
experience major depression after childbirth very often have had prior depressive episodes even though
they may not have been diagnosed and treated.
Pregnancy (if it is desired) seldom contributes to depression, and having an abortion does not appear to
lead to a higher incidence of depression. Women with infertility problems may be subject to extreme anxiety
or sadness, though it is unclear if this contributes to a higher rate of depressive illness. In addition,
motherhood may be a time of heightened risk for depression because of the stress and demands it imposes.
Menopause, in general, is not associated with an increased risk of depression. In fact, while once considered
a unique disorder, research has shown that depressive illness at menopause is no different than at other ages.
The women more vulnerable to change-of-life depression are those with a history of past depressive episodes.
Find a Therapist
Source: National Institute of Mental Health
Find a Therapist, Inc 6671 East Baseline Rd 105 Mesa, AZ 85206
1-866-450-3463 info@find-a-therapist.com