Running Head: DEPRESSION IN WOMEN

Causes of Increased Prevalence of Depression in Women

Amanda M. Mathy

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DEPRESSION IN WOMEN

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Table of Contents
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2

3
4

5
6
7

Abstract...................................................................... 3
Introduction....4
What is Depression?................................................4
Forms of Depression....4
(Major Depressive Order).. 4
(Dysthymic Disorder) 4
(Psychotic Depression)...4
(Seasonal Affected Disorder) 5
(Bipolar Disorder)..5
Signs and Symptoms...5
Gender Roles Relating to Depression.6
Gender Bias....6
Causes of Depression in Women....6
Biological and Genetic Etiology.7
(Genetics)...7
(Chemicals and Hormones)7
(Menopause)...7
The Impact of Culture and Society.....7
(Stress)8
(Premenstrual dysphoric disorder).8
(Postpartum depression).
Depression Effects on Age of Women...8
Elder Women.9
Adolescent Girl. 9
Conclusion..9
Reference Page..10

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Abstract
In the psychology world, depression is recognized as a common disorder in women. Research
finds that it affects females twice the number it does to men with reasons that are not determined
yet. Current studies show particular attention to biological and genetic etiology of women.
Culture and society impact are also being studied as a cause of increased depression occurrences
in women. A thorough conduct of research will provide many potential causes as well the
prevalence of depression in women. Treatment information for this disorder is also provided in
order to stay cautious and prevent the causes from occurring. It will also encourage future
research by offering inadequate conclusions regarding depression incidences in women.

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Introduction
What is Depression?
Depression is a common psychological disorder that affects all individuals differently. It does
affect both men and women; however, women are more likely to be diagnosed with depression
than men are. The illness often interferes with womens standard functioning and daily life
patterns. Not only does it cause pain for the depressed woman, but it also affects those
supporting her. Symptoms of the disorder may first appear as a cognitive impairment and could
ultimately lead to a chronic disease. The women who have a slight or severe case of depression
need treatment immediately to maintain a better health status. Although depression is common, it
is a serious illness that still astounds researchers because the factors behind the development are
undetermined (Chapman & Perry, 2008).
Forms of Depression
Major Depressive Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder, commonly known as MDD, is the most severe case because it
drastically interferes with daily living habits including sleeping, eating, and working. It is a
restricting illness that prevents normal functioning for about two weeks. The combination of
symptoms is very severe as it changes physical and mental health statuses for individuals. An
episode of MDD has a very rare occurrence in ones life, but when it occurs it will continue to
reoccur throughout her entire life. According to the Major Depressive Disorder Guideline,
People who experience five or more depression symptoms have the MDD diagnosis (Major
Depressive Disorder, 2009). These symptoms can be as simple as change in weight or as severe
as suicidal thoughts (Major Depressive Disorder, 2009).
Dysthymic Disorder
Dysthymic disorder, commonly known as dysthymia, is a mild case of depression. The illness
also interferes with individuals functioning but is usually manageable. It is categorized by longterm depressive symptoms that last two years or longer. Regarding daily function, Murphy states
that Dysthymia occurs on more days than not and continues for most of the day (Murphy,
2013).
Psychotic Depression
Psychotic depression is a combination of a two severe illnesses, depression and psychosis.
Psychosis is a severe depressive illness that impairs thoughts and emotions. People with
psychosis no longer feel in contact with reality and often times feel confused. Senses are also
altered due to confusions. They often have impaired seeing, hearing, smelling, and feeling of
things that are not actually occurring, which are called hallucinations. They also have very strong
beliefs that result in a state of falseness, which are called delusions. Psychotic Depression only
occurs in short-term durations in an individuals life (Cuthbert, 2014).

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Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal affective disorder, commonly known as SAD, is a depressive illness that occurs
strongly during the winter months. It affects peoples mental status and behavior because they are
not encountered with enough natural sunlight. This disorder is one of the less severe illnesses
because it can be treated most of the time. One of the simplest treatments to reduce SAD
symptoms is to be active in the spring and summer months (Cuthbert , 2014)
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder, commonly known as manic-depressive illness, is a depressive illness that
affects the brain. This disorder causes energy and mood changes that leads to daily life problems.
People who have this disorder go through many up and downs because of mental and physical
issues. The National Institute of Mental Health explains that Bipolar disorder can be treated,
and people with this illness can lead full and productive lives (Cuthbert, 2014).
Signs and symptoms
Signs and symptoms of depression are placed in three different categories: emotional, physical,
and cognitive functioning. Emotional symptoms regard to individuals feelings and opinions
about themselves. Physical symptoms are visible changes on the body that are apparent to the
individual and people around him or her (Cooper, 2014). Cognitive changes are severe mental
difficulties that people women start to experience that lack them positive and focused thoughts
(Medalia & Revheim, 2012). Every woman is affected by depression in different ways and can
lead to mild symptoms or very severe symptoms depending on the degree of the illness.
Common symptoms from the Alzheimers society are as followed (Cooper, 2014):
Emotional
Sad, hopeless, or irritable mood
A lack of interest in activities that were once enjoyed
Low self-esteem and worthlessness
Feelings of isolation
Physical
Dramatic weight changes
Restlessness and agitation
Lack of energy
Sleep difficulties Insomnia
Frequent aches and pains
Cognitive Functioning
Problems with concentration and making simple decisions
Suicidal Ideation

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Gender Roles Relating to Depression

Mental illnesses are often determined by gender roles. With the numerous roles in society,
exposure with mental health risks occurs based on gender. Common mental disorders, such as
depression, anxiety, and alcoholism affect approximately 1 in 3 people in the community which
constitutes a serious public health problem, stated by the World Health Organization (World
Health Organization, 2014). The problem that pertains to the increase in mental disorders is that
it mostly affects women. Although males tend to have a higher rate of alcoholism, women have a
bigger chance of having most of the common mental disorders over men. Depression, as an
example, happens to be the most common mental disorder in women and is more prevalent in
women than men as a whole (World Health Organization, 2014).
Gender Bias
Gender bias, referred to as sexism, happens with mental disorders and other psychological
problems because of the stereotypes that society has made . For society norms, men are looked at
as tough individuals who could create a lot of violence. From this assumption, physicians are
more likely to diagnose violence related problems with men. Although this stereotype is false,
men are also looked at as heavy drinkers. From this assumption, men are most likely diagnosed
with disorders regarding alcohol than women are. On the other hand, women are often looked at
as the more emotional and mood changing individuals. This assumption leads many physicians
to quickly diagnose women with emotional distress. Women are also viewed as targets of
depression disorders because they are involved with more stressful situations and have more
emotion behind these situations. The problem with gender bias in a mental health facility is that
diagnoses given to individuals from physicians are not always accurate. Physicians need to be
aware of the stereotypes created in society and not assume that all gender characteristics are
alike. Both men and women can obtain any mental disorder and should not be diagnosed with
limited amount of assessments. Even if the data shown is told that women are more prevalent
with depression disorders, it doesnt mean all women that have psychological problems should
be diagnosed with depression (World Health Organization, 2014).
Causes of Depression in Women
As said before, depression is very prevalent in women, and it continues to increase each year.
The World Health Organization shows a statistic that states, Depressive disorders account for
close to 41.9% of the disability from neuropsychiatric disorders among men compared to 29.3%
among men, which proves that there are numerous causes and risks that affect women
differently than men relating to depression (World Health Organization, 2014). Researchers are
still looking for data regarding the potential factors for increased depression in women; however,
many causes are already determined by recent research (World Health Organization 2014). Many
of the causes that have been researched by the National Institute of Mental Health are based on
two categories: Biological and genetic etiology, and the impact of culture and society (Cuthbert,
2014).

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Biological and Genetic Etiology

Most factors that lead to an increase of depression in women deal with their genetics and biology
within their own body make-up. Genetics and biological make-ups cannot be changed and
ultimately leave women at a higher risk for a depression disorder.
Genetics
Every women and male have genetics that are passed down by their parents or other family
members. Genetics do not always have positive and/or negative views, so not every individual
may be satisfied with their genetic make-up. Genetics cannot be altered, but the likelihood of the
certain diseases or illnesses can be prevented. Based on womens emotional views, more women
are likely to develop depression, which can alter genetic make-up in the future. When women
have a family history of a depression disorder, she is most likely to be at a higher risk of
depression development. Based on genetic research at the National Institute of Mental Health,
depression development is related to the combination of multiple genes with environment or
other factors, which shows that women have more genes related to depression than men do
(Cuthbert, 2014). This does not mean that women without a family history of the illness cannot
develop depression (Cuthbert, 2014).
Chemicals and Hormones
Chemicals contribute to the many factors that lead women to experience depression disorders
more than men. The chemicals in the brain that regulate sleep, thinking, appetite, and mood
changes are often irregular in individuals with depression. This research corresponds with
women because they unfortunately do not have nearly as much chemicals regulating these
responses as men do, so they are already at a higher risk of depression when their brain started to
develop. Hormones also influence risks for depression disorder because the constant change in
female hormones affects the chemicals in the brain. As puberty, pregnancy, and menopause
occurs, hormones are changing the chemicals that control the emotions in the brain. This leads to
more emotions and an imbalance in womens bodies that are very unpredictable. Not being sure
of ones emotions or thoughts can lead to sadness and depression (Cuthbert, 2014).
Menopause
Although menopause is not directly related to the increase of depression in women, the stage
before menopause, called perimenopause, is related to depression. As stated before, the change in
hormones and chemicals during this stage alters emotions. The many changes that occur during
different stages of menopause are from the fluctuating levels of ovarian hormones, as said by
The North American Menopause Society (Bilancini, 2014). Experiencing menopause at different
ages can also increase depression risks due to more severe and chronic mood swings (Bilancini,
2014).
The Impact of Culture and Society

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Like most lifestyles, factors that occur in societal or culture views impact individuals in many
different ways. From the surrounding stress and emotion that comes from societal issues, women
have a higher tendency of obtaining depression risks factors due to the combination of biological
emotional mindsets and emotion within the society (Bilancini, 2014).
Stress
Stress is the number one factor that leads women to have a higher risk of depression disorder
than men. Due to womens thought process and emotional mindset, issues that occur in society
often have a negative effect on them (Bilancini, 2014). Women are faced with very stressful daily
responsibilities as they are often caring for their children, husband, and family members. Besides
family, they are faced stressful situations such as work and friend event. Women also being the
more sensitive individuals, are more likely to be impacted by traumatic life events such as loss of
loved-ones. With the combination of stress inside and outside the home, womens hormones are
triggered and increase emotional status leading to depressive thoughts. Although men and
women experience the same stressful situation, women respond in such a way that prolongs
their feelings of stress more so than men, increasing the risk for depression, according to the
National Institute of Mental Health (Cuthbert, 2014). Researchers are still unable to find data that
reveals why some women experiencing the same stressful situations do develop depression and
why some do not.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Due to females premenstrual cycle, they are often prone to obtaining premenstrual dysphoric
disorder. Often times, they feel various symptoms before menstruation, such as anxiety, and
irritability that can alter their daily functions. Experiencing feelings that interfere with daily
habits can make the woman feel very uneasy about herself. She may feel very unsure about her
body functions and has a lack of knowledge regarding the premenstrual dysphoric disorder
(Bilancini, 2014). The lack of comfort can lead to self-confidence issues that ultimately trigger
depressive emotions (Cuthbert, 2014).
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression, also called baby blues, occurs only in women because it correlates with
giving birth. After giving birth, hormonal and physical changes occur in almost every individual,
which is completely normal. Not only dealing with self-changes, women also have to embrace
the responsibility of a newborn and realize that they are caring for two people now. It occurs
mostly after the first child is born because the mother is unaware of her new responsibilities and
changes that will occur. Due to emotional instability, mothers are often at a higher risk of a
depression disorder. Although, postpartum depression occurs mostly after birth, individuals can
also experience it during the pregnancy stage. (Cuthbert, 2014).
Depression Effects on Age of Women
Adolescent Girls

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At the adolescent age, girls are still more likely to experience depression than boys based on
many factors. Girls going through the adolescent stage are experiencing the highest level of
biological and hormonal changes due to puberty. They are also at a stage of confusion and selfconsciousness due to social peer pressure. They are being exposed to difficult situations that they
have to handle themselves for the first time in their lives, so their emotions are changing
frequently. Girls are also trying to overcome past hardships that traumatized them as children,
such as sexual abuse. They are now on their own to view their problems and realize that there are
things they can change and not change. Most importantly, adolescent girls are surrounded by
many boys that are unaware of girls puberty stage. This means that girls are trying to impress
the boys but also trying to hide the physical and mental changes they have (Cuthbert, 2014).
Elderly Women
After the menopause stage, depression is still likely to occur in elderly women than men. At this
stage of life, more traumatic events tend to occur, such as retirement, aging, and loss of lovedones. From these frequent traumatic events, females experience the emotional distress in a short
period of time. This can overload the chemicals and hormones in the brain and can lead to
emotional imbalance. Elderly women may also not be willing to cooperation with physicians
about depression-like symptoms because they do not want to talk about diseases that could lead
to death. Lack of communication with the physicians can lead to physicians uncertainty of
patient diagnosis (Cuthbert, 2014).
Conclusion
Overall, causes of increased prevalence of depression in women are not fully determined.
Depression continues to rise in the female gender and as a common mental disorder in the United
States (Chapman & Perry, 2008). Depression is a severe mental condition that truly interferes
with womens daily functioning. After research findings, genetic and biological etiology has an
impact on depression risks, especially when dealing with chemical and hormonal issues
(Cuthbert, 2014). Society and cultural issues are also relevant to specific risks factors because it
deals with many stressful events that women have to face on a daily basis. From these recent
findings, researchers and psychologists are becoming more educated on how to slowly diminish
risks factors of depression in women.

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References
Bilancini , A. M. (2014). Depression and menopause. The North American Menopause Society ,
Retrieved from http://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/depressionmenopause
Chapman , D. P., & Perry , G. S. (2008). Depression as a major component of public health for
older adults.Preventing Chronic Disease: Public Health Research, Practice, and Policy ,
Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2248771/
Cooper, C. (2014). Depression and anxiety . Alzheimer's Society: Leading the fight against
dementia , Retrieved from http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents
_info.php?documentID =139
Cuthbert , B. (2014). Women and depression: Discovering hope. National Institute of Mental
Health , Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/women-anddepression-discovering-hope/index.shtml
Gender and women's mental health . (2014). World Health Organization , Retrieved from
http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/genderwomen/en/
Major depressive disorder (mdd) guideline: Diagnostic nomenclature for clinical depressive
conditions. (2009). Major Depressive Disorder, Retrieved from http://www.pdhealth.mi
l/major_depressive_disorder_guideline.pdf
Medalia , A., & Revheim , N. (2012). Dealing with cognitive dysfunction associated with
psychiatric disabilities. Office of Mental Health, Retrieved from
https://www.omh.ny.gov/omhweb/cogdys_manual/CogDysHndbk.htm
Murphy, K. (2013). Recognizing depression across the lifespan. Nursing made Incredibly Easy,
11(3), 26-32. doi: 10.1097/01.NME.0000428431.44876.46