Does depression affect women more than it affects men?

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Does depression affect women more than it affects
men?

• Lindsey Currin
• Psy 223

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DEPRESSION

• Depression is a serious mood disorder that
  affects more than 17 million adults in the United
  States.
• Many times, the disorder is under diagnosed and
  under treated by primary care and other
  non-mental health practitioners. (Agency for
  Health Care Policy and Research, 2003)

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Symptoms and Signs of Depression

• Poorer moods, which generally range from moderate
  sadness to an extreme sense of guilt or
  hoplessness.
• Problem in thinking, being unable to concentrate,
  and/or lacking the ability to make a decision.
• Lack of interest and participation in work and/or
  recreational activities.

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Continued

• Inability to sleep or disproportionate amounts of
  sleep, lack of energy, decreased or lowered sex
  drive.
• Sudden and persistent headaches, and
  increased/decreased appetite.
• Apprehension or nervousness.

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Not a Normal Response

• Depression is not considered to be a normal
  reaction to sorrow or anguish. A patient with
  depression usually demonstrates frustration and
  annoyance towards the clinician rather than
  sadness.
• Because of these emotions towards the clinician,
  the patient usually develops a sense of guilt.

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Causes of Depression

• This mood disorder is thought to be the
  expression of certain genetic disturbances,
  developmental factors, and/or psychological
  stress.
• Depression can also be caused by a traumatic
  event in the patients life.
• Depression has also been linked to high cortisol
  levels. High levels have been known to inhibit
  immune system activity.

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To be diagnosed with depression, 5 or more
symptoms must be present each day

• Depressed mood
• Diminished interest in activities
• Significant weight loss or gain
• Insomnia or hypersomnia
• Motor agitation or retardation
• Fatigue and/or loss of energy

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Continued.

• Feeling of worthlessness
• Diminished ability to concentrate
• Suicidal ideation
• (Fogle and Woods, 1995.)

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Vulnerability

• Women are particularly more vulnerable to
  developing depression than men.
• This vulnerability is believed to be associated
  with early gender role identity, success and
  failures in life, the patients self image, and/or
  negative coping styles..
• Societys stereotypes increase the vulnerability
  of women.

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Life Events

• It has been hypothesized that one reason why
  women suffer from more depression than men is
  because women have a more significant number of
  stressful life events.

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4 Factors of Vulnerability for Women

• The death of a womans mother before the age of
  eleven.
• Having three of more children under the age of
  fourteen.
• Having an absence of a confiding relationship
  with a husband or partner.
• Absence of a job or employment.

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Socioeconomic Status

• The four factors of vulnerability have been
  proven to be unequally distributed over
  socioeconomic status.
• While they are unequally distributed, it has been
  found that women with lower status are subjected
  to a higher number of severe or stressful events
  in their life, therefore putting them at a higher
  risk for depression and drug abuse.

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Chemically Depressed Women

• Chemically depressed women are known to have a
  higher number of mental health problems in their
  family or origin than men do. (Fogel and Woods,
  1995.)

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Men vs. Women

• Depression affects less than 2 of men.
• Unmarried men have higher rates of depression
  than married men.
• 5-12 of men will become depressed in their
  lifetime.

• Depression affects 4.5 of women.
• Women are 3 times more likely to develop
  depression in an unhappy marriage than men.

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Continued..

• Men are 4 times more likely to die by suicide
  when depressed.

• Married women have higher rates of depression
  than unmarried women.
• Women attempt suicide 2-3 times more often than
  men.

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Child Abuse

• Child abuse is thought to be one of the leading
  causes of depression in later life.
• It has also been proven that girls are the
  victims of child abuse more often than boys.

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Depression and Women

• Because of the differences in males and females,
  depression is usually not noticed until after
  puberty has started or until after menopause.
  Researchers believe that hormonal factors
  influence a women's vulnerability. Stress that is
  related to such factors as several roles at home
  and also at work, being financially unstable,
  being exposed to violence and abuse, and raising
  children alone, can also be a determining factor
  in the development of depression.

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Genetic Factors

• There has been research based on the genetic
  makeup of twins that suggests that depression has
  a genetic factor.

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Preventable and Treatable

• Depression is a highly treatable and preventable
  disorder that can be managed with therapy and
  medications.

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Bibliography

• American Psychological Association. www.apa.org
• Blechman, E. and Brownell, K. Behavioral
  Medications and Women A Comprehensive Handbook.
  The Guilford Press. NY. 1998.
• Carroll, D. and Niven, C. The Health Psychology
  of Women. Harwood Academic Publishers.
  Switzerland. 1993.

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Continued.

• Fogel, C. and Woods, N. Womens Health Care A
  Comprehensive Handbook. SAGE Publications.
  Thousand Oaks. 1995.
• Gallant, S., Keita, G., and Roya-Schaler, R.
  Health Care for Women Psychological, Social and
  Behavioral Influences. American Psychological
  Association. Washington, D.C. 1997.

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Continued..

• Hall, R. Psychiatric Presentations of Medical
  Illnesses Somatopsychic Disorders. SP Medical
  and Scientific Books. NY. 1980.
• Tierney, L., McPhee, S., and Papadakis, M. 2002
  Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment Adult
  Ambulatory and Inpatient Managemnet. Lange
  Medical Books/McGraw-Hill. NY. 2002.

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Continued.

• www.cpa-apc.org/
• www.depression-treatment.com/womendepress.htm
• www.healthnet.com/healthy_woman/words_for_women/he
  alth_conditions/03j_womenanddepression.asp