Depression
Depression in Women
Contrary to popular belief, clinical depression is not a “normal part
of being a woman” nor is it a “female weakness.” Depressive
illnesses are serious medical illnesses that affect more than 19 million
American adults age 18 and over each year.[1]
Depression is a treatable medical illness that can occur in any
woman, at any time, and for various reasons regardless of age, race
or income.
Prevalence
- Approximately 12 million women in the United States experience clinical
depression each year.[2]
- About one in every eight women can expect to develop clinical depression
during their lifetime.2
- Depression occurs most frequently in women aged 25 to 44.[3]
Contributing Factors
- Many factors in women may contribute to depression, such as developmental,
reproductive, hormonal, genetic and other biological differences (e.g.
premenstrual syndrome, childbirth, infertility and menopause). [4]
- Social factors may also lead to higher rates of clinical depression
among women, including stress from work, family responsibilities,
the roles and expectations of women and increased rates of sexual
abuse and poverty.4
Gender Differences
- Women experience depression at roughly twice the rate of men.3
- Girls 14-18 years of age have consistently higher rates of depression
than boys in this age group.[5]
PMS/PMDD
- Twenty to forty percent of women may experience premenstrual syndrome
and an estimated 3 to 5 percent have symptoms severe enough to be
classified as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). [6]
Marriage/Childbirth
- Married people have a lower rate of depression than those living
alone. However, unhappily married people have the highest rates of
depression; happily married men have the lowest rates.3
- Approximately 10%-15% of all new mothers get postpartum
depression, which most frequently occurs within the first year
after the birth of a child.[7]
Co-occurring Illnesses
- Research shows a strong relationship between eating disorders (anorexia
and bulimia nervosa) and depression in women.[8] About 90-95% of cases of anorexia occur in young
females.9 Reported rates of bulimia nervosa vary from one to three
out of 100 people.6
- Research shows that one out of three depressed people also suffers
from some form of substance abuse or dependence.[9]
Suicide
- Although men are more likely than women to die by suicide,
women report attempting suicide approximately twice as often
as men.[10]
- An estimated 15 percent of people hospitalized for depression eventually
take their own lives.[11]
Treatment
- Depression in women is misdiagnosed approximately 30 to 50 percent
of the time.[12]
- Fewer than half of the women who experience clinical depression
will ever seek care.[13]
Fortunately, clinical depression is a very treatable illness. More
than 80 percent of people with depression can be treated successfully
with medication, psychotherapy or a combination of both.3
Women’s Attitudes Toward Depression:
According to a National Mental Health Association survey[14] on public attitudes and beliefs
about clinical depression:
- More than one-half of women believe it is “normal” for a woman to
be depressed during menopause and that treatment is not necessary.
- More than one-half of women believe depression is a “normal part
of aging.”
- More than one-half believe it is normal for a mother to feel depressed
for at least two weeks after giving birth.
- More than one-half of women cited denial as a barrier to treatment
while 41% of women surveyed cited embarrassment or shame as barriers
to treatment.
- In general, over one-half of the women said they think they “know”
more about depression than men do.
For additional resources, please call 1-800-969-NMHA.
NMHA's Campaign for America's Mental Health works to raise awareness
that mental illnesses are common, real and treatable illnesses and ensure
that those most at-risk receive proper, timely and effective treatment.
Click here for more information.
The Campaign is made possible through unrestricted educational grants
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Posted: March 2000
[1] National Institute of Mental Health: “The Numbers
Count: Mental Illness in America,” Science on Our Minds Fact Sheet
Series. Accessed August 1999.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/numbers.cfm
[2]
National Institute of Mental Health, Unpublished Epidemiological Catchment
Area Analyses, (1999).
[3]
National Institute of Mental Health: “Depression: Treat it. Defeat
it.” Accessed June 1999.
Netscape: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/depression/genpop/gen_fact.htm.
[4]
National Institute of Mental Health, D/ART Campaign: “Depression:
What Every Woman Should Know,” (1995). Pub No. 95-3871.
[5]
Kandel DB, Davies M: “Epidemiology of Depressive Mood in Adolescents:
An Empirical Study,” Archives of General Psychiatry 1982; 39:1205-1212.
[6]
National Institute of Mental Health. “Women Hold Up Half the Sky,”
Updated June 1999.
Netscape: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/womensoms.cfm.
[7]
Seidman D: “Postpartum Psychiatric Illness: The Role of the Pediatrician,”
Pediatrics in Review, 19 (1998):128-131.
[8]
Willcox M, Stattler, DN: “The Relationship Between Disorders and
Depression,” The Journal of Social Psychology 1996; 136:269.
[9]
National Institute of Mental Health: “Co-Occurrence of Depression
with Medical, Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Disorders,”
Accessed July 1999. Netscape: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/depression/co_occur/abuse.htm
[10]
Horton JA: “A Profile of Women’s Health in the United States,” The
Women’s Health Data Book, 2nd ed., Jacobs Institute
of Women’s Health, 1995.
[11]
National Institute of Mental Health. “Helpful Facts About Depressive
Illnesses,” (1994). Pub. No. 94-3875. Accessed June 1999.
Netscape: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/depression/genpop/dep_fact.htm.
[12]
McGrath E, Keita GP, Strickland BR, Russo NF: “Women and Depression:
Risk Factors and Treatment Issues. Washington, DC, American Psychological
Association, 1990.
[13]
Rupp A, Gause E, Regier D: “Research Policy Implications of Cost-of-Illness
Studies for Mental Disorders,” British Journal of Psychiatry Suppl
1998; 36:19-25.
[14]
National Mental Health Association, “American Attitudes about Clinical
Depression and its Treatment,” (March 27, 1996).
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