Depression is a serious medical condition that affects mood and behaviors. It is more common in women than men, affecting about 1 in 8 women at some point in their lifetime. While the core symptoms are the same, women often experience depression differently than men and are more susceptible to factors like hormonal changes, stress, and rumination. Effective treatment for women may require consideration of biological differences and adjusting medication doses or monitoring side effects more closely.

2. Depression
o Depression is a medical illness that involves the
body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way you
eat and sleep, the way you feel about yourself,
and the way you think about things.
o It is different from feeling "blue" or down for a few
hours or a couple of days. It is not a condition that
can be willed or wished away.

3. Depression
 Depression is not "one size fits all," particularly
when it comes to the genders. Not only are
women more prone to depression than men,
but the causes of female depression and even
the pattern of symptoms are often different.
Many factors contribute to the unique picture
of depression in women—from reproductive
hormones to social pressures to the female
response to stress. Learning about these
factors can help you minimize your risk of
depression and treat it more effectively.

4. Understanding depression in women
Depression is a serious condition that can impact every area of your
life.
It can affect your
 social life
 relationships
 career
 sense of self-worth and purpose
And for women in particular, depression is common. In fact, according
to the National Mental Health Association, about one in every eight
women will develop depression at some point during her lifetime.

5. Symptoms of Depression
Vary from person to
person
 2 key signs are loss of
interest in things you
like to do and sadness
or irritability

6. Signs and symptoms of depression in women

7. Additional Signs include:
 Changes in feelings which may include:
 Feeling empty
 Inability to enjoy anything
 Hopelessness
 Loss of sexual desire
 Loss of warm feelings for family or friends
 Feelings of self blame or guilt
 Loss of self esteem
 Inexplicable crying spells, sadness or
irritability

8. Changes in behavior and attitude
 These may include:]
 General slowing down
 Neglect of responsibilities and appearance
 Poor memory
 Inability to concentrate
 Suicidal thoughts, feelings or behaviors
 Difficulty making decisions
]

9. Physical Complaints
 These may include:
 Sleep disturbances such as early
morning waking, sleeping too much
or insomnia
 Lack of energy
 Loss of appetite
 Weight loss or gain
 Unexplained headaches or
backaches
 Stomachaches, indigestion or
changes in bowl habits

10. Differences between male and female
depression
Although the signs and symptoms of depression are
the same for both men and women, women tend to
experience certain symptoms more often than men.
Example: seasonal affective disorder—depression in
the winter months due to lower levels of sunlight—is
more common in women. Also, women are more
likely to experience the symptoms of atypical
depression.

11. Differences between male and female
depression
 In atypical depression, rather than
sleeping less, eating less, and losing
weight, the opposite is seen:
 Sleeping excessively
 eating more (especially carbohydrates)
 and gaining weight.
 Feelings of guilt associated with
depression are also more prevalent and
pronounced in women. Women

12. Differences between male and female depression
Women tend to:
 Blame themselves
 Feel sad, apathetic, and worthless
 Feel anxious and scared
 Avoid conflicts at all costs
 Feel slowed down and nervous
 Have trouble setting boundaries
 Find it easy to talk about self-doubt and despair
 Use food, friends, and "love" to self-medicate

13. Differences between male and female depression
Men tend to:
 Blame others
 Feel angry, irritable, and ego
inflated
 Feel suspicious and guarded
 Create conflicts
 Feel restless and agitated
 Need to feel in control at all costs
 Find it “weak” to admit self-doubt or
despair
 Use alcohol, TV, sports, and sex to
self-medicate

14. Causes of depression in women
 Women are about twice as likely as men to suffer from depression.
This two-to-one difference persists across racial, ethnic, and
economic divides. In fact, this gender difference in rates of
depression is found in most countries around the world. There are a
number of theories that attempt to explain the higher incidence of
depression in women. Many factors have been implicated,
including biological, psychological, and social factors.

16.  Different kinds of depression include:
 Major depressive disorder. Also called major
depression, this is a combination of symptoms that hurt a
person's ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy
hobbies.
 Dysthymic (diss-TIME-ic) disorder. Also called
dysthymia, this kind of depression lasts for a long time
(two years or longer). The symptoms are less severe than
major depression but can prevent you from living
normally or feeling well.

17.  Some kinds of depression show slightly different symptoms than
those described above. Some may start after a particular event.
However, not all scientists agree on how to label and define these
forms of depression. They include:
 Psychotic depression, which occurs when a severe depressive
illness happens with some form of psychosis, such as a break with
reality, hallucinations, and delusions.
 Postpartum depression, which is diagnosed if a new mother has a
major depressive episode within one month after delivery.
 Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is a depression during
the winter months, when there is less natural sunlight.

18. o A less severe type of depression, dysthymia, involves long-term,
chronic symptoms that do not disable, but keep one from functioning
well or from feeling good. Many people with dysthymia also
experience major depressive episodes at some time in their lives.
o Another type of depressive disorder is bipolar disorder, also called
manic-depressive illness. Not nearly as prevalent as other forms of
depressive disorders, bipolar disorder is characterized by cycling
mood changes: severe highs (mania) and lows (depression).
Sometimes the mood switches are dramatic and rapid, but most
often they are gradual.

19. Biological and hormonal causes of depression
in women
Premenstrual problems
Postpartum depression
Pregnancy and infertility
Perimenopause and menopause

20. Premenstrual problems
Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle can cause the familiar
symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), such as bloating, irritability,
fatigue, and emotional reactivity.
For many women, PMS is mild. But for
some women, symptoms are severe enough to disrupt their lives and a
diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is made.
For most women, these premenstrual symptoms are uncomfortable but not
disabling. But for up to one out of ten women, symptoms are so distressing
and disabling that they warrant a diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric
disorder (PMDD). PMDD is characterized by severe depression, irritability,
and other mood disturbances. Symptoms begin about 10 to 14 days before
your period and improve within a few days of its start.

22. Symptoms of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Feelings of sadness or hopelessness
Feelings of tension or anxiety
Panic attacks
Mood swings and tearfulness
Persistent irritability or anger
Disinterest in daily activities and relationships
Trouble concentrating
Fatigue or low energy
Food cravings or binge eating
Sleep disturbances
Feeling out of control
Physical symptoms (bloating, breast tenderness, headaches,
muscle pain)

23.  Pregnancy and infertility
The many hormonal changes that occur
during pregnancy can
contribute to depression, particularly in
women already at high risk.
Other issues relating to pregnancy such as
miscarriage, unwanted
pregnancy, and infertility can also play a
role in depression.

24. Postpartum depression
Many new mothers experience the “baby
blues.” This is a normal reaction that tends
to subside within a few weeks.
However, some women experience severe,
lasting depression.
This condition is known as postpartum
depression. Postpartum depression is believed
to be influenced, at least in part, by
hormonal fluctuations.

25. Levels of thyroid hormones may also drop after giving birth. The thyroid
is a small gland in the neck that helps regulate how your body uses and
Stores energy from food.
Low levels of thyroid hormones can cause symptoms of
depression. A simple blood test can tell if this condition is causing your
symptoms. If so, your doctor can prescribe thyroid medicine.
Other factors may play a role in postpartum depression.
One may feel:
 Tired after delivery
 Tired from a lack of sleep or broken sleep
 Overwhelmed with a new baby
 Doubts about your ability to be a good mother
 Stress from changes in work and home routines
 An unrealistic need to be a perfect mom
 Loss of who you were before having the baby
 Less attractive
 A lack of free time

26.  Perimenopause and menopause
Women may be at increased risk for depression during
perimenopause, the stage leading to menopause when
reproductive hormones rapidly fluctuate. Women with past
histories of depression are at an increased risk of
depression
During menopause as well.

27. Psychological causes of depression in women
 Focusing on and rehashing negative feelings - Women are
more likely to ruminate when they are depressed. This
includes crying to relieve emotional tension, trying to figure
out why you’re depressed, and talking to your friends about
your depression. However, rumination has been found to
maintain depression and even make it worse.
 Men, on the other hand, tend to distract themselves when
they are depressed. Unlike rumination, distraction can
reduce depression.
Stress - Some studies show that women are more likely than
men to develop depression under lower levels of stress.
Furthermore, the female physiological response to stress is
different.

28. Women produce more stress hormones than men
do,
and the female sex hormone prevents the stress
hormone system from turning itself off as it does in
men.
 Body image issues
The gender difference in depression begins in
adolescence. The emergence of sex differences
during puberty likely plays a role. Some researchers
point to body dissatisfaction, which increases in girls
during the sexual development of puberty.

30. Treating depression in women
 For the most part, women suffering from depression receive
the same types of treatment as everyone else. The main
treatment approaches are psychotherapy and antidepressant
therapy. However, there are some special treatment
considerations for depression in women.
 Depression, hormones, and the reproductive cycle
Hormone fluctuations related to the reproductive cycle can
have a profound influence on a woman’s mood. In light of
this possibility, you and your doctor should always look for
connections between your depressive symptoms and the
female reproductive cycle.

31. How depression treatment is different for women

Specific aspects of treatment must often be modified for
women. Because of female biological differences, women
should generally be started on lower doses of
antidepressants than men. Women are also more likely to
experience side effects, so any medication use should be
closely monitored.
Finally, women are more likely than men to require
simultaneous treatment for other conditions such as anxiety
disorders and eating disorders.

32. If you or someone you know
has symptoms of
depression…
Take Action!

33. References
1. Framingham, J. (2006). Types of Depression Unique to
Women. Psych Central. Retrieved on January 1, 2013, from
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/types-of-depression-unique-
to-women/