Women and depression: An underrated problem

Clinical depression is a common disorder, but its burden on health and productivity in the United States and throughout the world has long been underestimated. In an established market economy, such as that of the United States, unipolar major depression (MD) is the second-leading cause of disease burden, surpassed only by ischemic heart disease. Worldwide, it is the No. 1cause of disability among persons aged five and older, and up to 15% of individuals suffering from the severe forms of depression eventually commit suicide, signifying the high morbidity and mortality associated with this disorder. It is also important to note that depression exerts its biggest toll on women.

MD affects more than 19 million Americans annually, and while depression occurs across all education, racial, ethnic, and economic groups, women appear to bear the brunt of it. Extensive epidemiological data have shown that women are at least twice as likely as men to experience a major depressive episode at least once during their lifetime. According to a 2002 news release from the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), depression was the second-leading cause of hospitalization for young women in 2000. Data showed that approximately 205,000 women between the ages of 18 and 44 were hospitalized in association with the treatment of depression.

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