Women and Major Depressive Disorder: Clinical Perspectives on Causal Pathways

Abstract

To effectively treat MDD in women and to prevent the recurrence of illness in vulnerable women, clinicians must understand the sex-specific aspects of mood disorders over the longitudinal course of women's reproductive lives. A biopsychosocial approach should, therefore, be the main focus of future research and practice, to eventually result in an integrated etiological model of depression in women. Based on the prevalence of MDD in women, timely screening, diagnosis, and intervention should be public health priorities.

Screening symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation in people with epilepsy using the Beck depression inventory

“…28,29 However, there is no particular definite elucidation to explain why depression is more common in women. [30][31][32] Besides the previous knowledge of higher prevalence of depression in women, the effect of gender on depression in PWE has been highly controversial, most likely due to different methodological approaches. Some studies concluded that men are overrepresented in depressed PWE.…”

A Feminist Phenomenological Description of Depression in Low-income South African Women

“…Where medical models consider biological factors, social models consider social factors to be the cause of pathology (Mauthner, 1998). The diathesis-stress and biopsychosocial models move towards combining these two dominant perspectives by postulating that a person who is vulnerable to depression (via their biology, cognitive style or personality) may become depressed in response to stressful or unfavourable environmental or social conditions (Accortt, Freeman, & Allen, 2008). However, although these "combined" models were created with the intention of giving equal consideration to the different aspects of experience, in practice, they often prise biological over social or psychological aspects (Lafrance & McKenzie-Mohr, 2013).…”

Die Subjektiewe Ervaring Van Depressie Onder Suid-Afrikaanse Vroue in ’n Lae-Inkomste Gemeenskap

“…In verskeie internasionale en Suid-Afrikaanse epidemiologiese studies is bevind dat vroue byna twee keer meer geneig is om aan depressie te ly as mans (Accort, Freeman & Allen, 2008;Kessler, 2003;Ngcobo & Pillay, 2008). Volgens die Wêreldgesondheids-organisasie (2006) is depressie die grootste oorsaak van siekteverwante ongeskiktheid onder vroue wêreldwyd (Dukas, 2009;Lafrance & Stoppard, 2006).…”