The fact that women suffer from depression twice as much as men is well known. Depression occurs in approximately 20% of women over the course of a lifetime, as opposed to men. Although the diagnosis of depression is the same for men and women, women tend to experience more guilt, anxiety, increased appetite and sleep, weight gain and various eating disorders. Women experience depression twice as often as men. The diagnostic criteria for depression are the same for both sexes, but women with depression more frequently experience guilt, anxiety, increased appetite and sleep, weight gain and eating disorders.
Over the course of a lifetime, depression occurs in approximately 20 percent of women compared to10 percent of men. This could be because of several reasons including gender-related differences, and biological factors. Other factors include a family history of depression, loss of a parent in early childhood, use of oral contraceptive and a childhood history of sexual abuse.
With depression comes the risk of suicide. Women under 30 who are depressed have the greatest risk for suicide attempts. They often attempt suicide because of loss of an intimate relationship, they live alone, they abuse drugs and/or alcohol or they suffer from severe anxiety or panic attacks.
Since lethal doses of medications are the leading cause of suicide among women, any depressed patient should be closely monitored if prescribed an antidepressant in order to prevent overdosing.
Common treatments for depressed women include psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy to help eliminate negative thoughts and marriage counseling to help with conflicts. Often times, psychotherapy is used in combination with antidepressant medication.
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Depression not only affects adults, it affects children as well. Children who suffer from depression can be treated using medications and counseling techniques. A child is considered depressed when feelings of depression are ongoing and interfere with the normal behavior of the child. Children are...
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Depression affects your mind, as well as your body. If you have a friend or a loved one who is depressed, it can be extremely painful to witness. However, there are ways that you can help. If you have a family member, friend or loved...
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Am I Depressed
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Do you find it hard to concentrate on your job? Are you experiencing sleeping disorder? Do you worry too much? Have you become irritable? Do you get emotional or upset for no specific reason? Then you may be going through depression. Depression is a tough...
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Depressed Men
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Men and women can suffer from depression; men are far more likely to hide their depression. This probably explains why far fewer men are diagnosed and treated for depression. Although depression can easily be treated with a variety of methods, men seldom ask for help....
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Teen Bipolar Disorder
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Children and teenagers with bipolar disorders can have manic or depressive symptoms. Some children may mostly have depression and others a combination of manic and depressive symptoms. Highs are usually combined with alternative lows. Bipolar disorders usually begin in childhood and during the teenage years,...
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A Guide To Depression
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Clinical Depression
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Clinical depression is a medical term used to refer to any form of depression that requires treatment in order to alleviate it. Typically, people are prone to depression when something bad or what they perceive as bad occurs in their lives, such as the death...
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Bipolar Depression
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