Depression

Depression is deemed to be the most prevalent mental health condition affecting individuals worldwide and expected to become the second most significant cause of disease and disability by 2020. In medical and psychiatric discourse, depression is defined through an array of symptoms that last for more than 2 weeks, including moodiness that is out of character; increased irritability and frustration; finding it hard to take minor personal criticisms; spending less time with friends and family; loss of interest in food, sex, exercise, or other pleasurable activities; being awake throughout the night; increased alcohol and drug use; staying home from work or school; increased physical health complaints, such as fatigue or pain; being reckless or taking unnecessary risks; and slowing down of thoughts and actions. Epidemiological researchers have reported that women outnumber men in lifetime prevalence of depression at a ratio that ranges from 2:1 to 4:1. At the same time, studies examining incidence in the previous 1–12 months report that women are between 1.2 and 2.7 times more likely to have experienced depression than men and women significantly outnumber men in first admission rates for hospital treatment and in register studies where incidence is calculated by contact with services. Women are also estimated to be twice as likely as men to be prescribed psychotropic medication for depression, in particular selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It has been argued that if we can understand why women are more likely to be diagnosed with depression than men, we will understand the cause of depression itself. In this account, I will therefore examine the historical development of current Western definitions of depression, followed by an examination of theories of gender differences in diagnosis and treatment.