Research on Depression

Psychology 352
December 3, 2002
Depression

One of the most common psychiatric conditions is depression. Depression affects both men and women alike, however women are twice as likely to be affected by depressive disorders. By one estimate, 12.4 million women suffer from a depressive disorder; which clearly means that one out of every 10 women will experience a major depressive disorder this year, and one out of every five women will suffer a major depressive disorder in her lifetime. These are illnesses that cause marriages to crumble, disrupt relationships with children and ruin careers. This is clearly known as one of the biggest issues in women’s health. The statistics help explain why melancholy is a theme that runs through the work of many female artists, from the poetry of Emily Dickinson, and Anne Sexton to the lyrics of Fiona Apple and Beth Orton. Each in her own way tried to capture the devastating sense of hopelessness that can come to define many women’s lives...