According to the National Mental Health Association, approximately 12 million women in the United States experience clinical depression each year.
and about one in every eight women can expect to develop clinical depression during their lifetime.
Rates of depression in women are twice as high as they are in men. This is due in part to hormonal factors, particularly when it
comes to premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), postpartum depression, and perimenopausal depression.
As for signs and symptoms, women are more likely than men to experience pronounced feelings of guilt, sleep excessively, overeat, and gain weight.
Women are also more likely to suffer from seasonal affective disorder.
Not only are women more prone to depression than men, but the causes of female depression and even the pattern of symptoms are often different.
Many factors contribute to the unique picture of depression in women - from reproductive hormones to social pressures to the female response to stress.
Learning about these factors can help you minimize your risk of depression and treat it more effectively.
Signs and symptoms of depression in women
The symptoms of depression in women are the same as those for major depression. Common complaints include:
- Depressed mood
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
- Feelings of guilt, hopelessness and worthlessness
- Suicidal thoughts or recurrent thoughts of death
- Sleep disturbance (sleeping more or sleeping less)
- Appetite and weight changes
- Difficulty concentrating
- Lack of energy and fatigue
Differences between male and female depression
Although the signs and symptoms of depression are the same for both men and women, women tend to experience certain symptoms more often than men.
For example, seasonal affective disorder (depression in the winter months due to lower levels of sunlight) is more common in women.
Also, women are more likely to experience the symptoms of atypical depression. In atypical depression, rather than sleeping less, eating less,
and losing weight, the opposite is seen: sleeping excessively, eating more (especially carbohydrates), and gaining weight.
Feelings of guilt associated with depression are also more prevalent and pronounced in women.
Women also have a higher incidence of thyroid problems. Since hypothyroidism can cause depression, this medical problem
should always be ruled out by a physician in women who are depressed.
Causes of depression in women
As mentioned above, women are about twice as likely as men to suffer from depression. This two-to-one difference persists across racial,
ethnic, and economic divides. In fact, this gender difference in rates of depression is found in most countries around the world.
There are a number of theories which attempt to explain the higher incidence of depression in women. Many factors have been implicated,
including biological, psychological, and social factors.
Treating depression in women
For the most part, women suffering from depression receive the same types of treatment as everyone else. The main treatment
approaches are psychotherapy and antidepressant therapy. However, there are some special treatment considerations for depression in women.
For example, things that should be taken into consideration include a woman's reproductive cycle, relationship issues and role strain, and
female biological differences. Additionally, women are also more likely to experience medication side effects, so any medication use should
be closely monitored. Finally, women are more likely than men to require simultaneous treatment for other conditions such as anxiety
disorders and eating disorders.
Articles by Dr. Randi Fredricks, Ph.D., LMFT
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