In the U.S., nearly twice as many women (12.0 percent) as men (6.6 percent) are affected by a depressive disorder each year.¹ These figures translate to 12.4 million women and 6.4 million men.² Depressive disorders include major depression, dysthymic disorder (a less severe but more chronic form of depression), and bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness). Major depression is the leading cause of disease burden among females ages 5 and older worldwide.³

Depressive disorders raise the risk for suicide. Although men are four times more likely than women to die by suicide,⁴ women report attempting suicide about two to three times as often as men.⁵ Self-inflicted injury, including suicide, ranks 9th out of the 10 leading causes of disease burden for females ages 5 and older worldwide.³

Research shows that before adolescence and late in life, females and males experience depression at about the same frequency.^6,7 Because the gender difference in depression is not seen until after puberty and decreases after menopause, scientists hypothesize that hormonal factors are involved in women's greater vulnerability. Stress due to psychosocial factors, such as multiple roles in the home and at work and the increased likelihood of women to be poor, at risk for violence and abuse, and raising children alone, also plays a role in the development of depression.⁸

While many women report some history of premenstrual mood changes and physical symptoms, an estimated 3 to 4 percent suffer severe symptoms that significantly interfere with work and social functioning.^9,10 This impairing form of premenstrual syndrome, also called Premenstrual Dysphonic Disorder (PMDD), appears to be an abnormal response to normal hormone changes.¹¹ Researchers are studying what makes some women susceptible to PMDD, including differences in hormone sensitivity, history of other mood disorders, and individual differences in the function of brain chemical messenger systems. Antidepressant medications known to work via serotonin circuits are effective in relieving the premenstrual symptoms.^12,13 Women with susceptibility to depression may be more vulnerable to the mood-shifting effects of hormones

 

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     Well Ladies, this concludes my first article. I truly hope that you have found this information useful. In future articles I will try to lighten the mood a bit. Perhaps even a little humor now and then. When it come to depression, laughter really is a great aid in helping one feel better. As I have it planned right now, my next topic will be Postpartum Depression. Also I would like to let you all know that if you have any particular topic that you would like to discuss I am always flexible. Another important thing that I must mention here is that I am not a professional. I am not qualified in any legal sense of the word to give professional advice. Basically, the information that I share with you will come from news sites, news feeds, research reports and some based on my own personal experience with mental illness. I consider myself a collector of information and I just share that information with others simply because I love people and I want to see people live as happy of a life as possible.

     Thank you all for joining me here and I look forward to any comments you might have about this forum. Believe me. I can take criticism. I was married once, for 17 years. That was a little humor girls. Please don't hurt me. LOL

 

May a smile follow you to sleep each night, and be there waiting when you awaken.

 

Yours Truly,

Bill Vanderbilt©2005

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