Understanding Depression in Women : Applying Empirical Research to Practice and Policy

Women are more likely to suffer from depression than are men, and depression is the leading cause of disability for women throughout the world. In this book, editors Carolyn M. Mazure and Gwen Puryear Keita survey the findings of experts in depression and explore the latest findings on treatment, prevention, and service delivery. Among the interesting findings revealed: those who develop major depression in pregnancy are more likely to have recurrent episodes in the next five years; prevention efforts for adolescents that are focused on social problem solving and coping strategies significantly lower the risk of developing major depression; Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) has recently been adapted to treat depressed women during pregnancy and postpartum. And, a group intervention based on IPT was found to be effective in preventing postpartum depression onset in a sample of at-risk women. The common notion that most women suffer from major depressive disorder after menopause is not well supported, but there is evidence suggesting greater risk during the perimenopausal transition. Some unconventional treatments, like yoga and acupuncture, show promise as alternative or complementary treatments for depression and its long-term management. The book, drawing from the work of over 40 top experts in the field, will influence the work of researchers, practitioners, and policy makers for years to come.