Depression Overview

Depression is a mood disorder that is characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or worthlessness that last for at least 2 weeks. Although the severity and duration of symptoms can vary between individuals, people with depression often have difficulty concentrating, lose interest in hobbies or activities that they previously enjoyed, or have decreased energy levels. Their appetite and sleep cycle may also be affected. In some cases, they may have thoughts of harming themselves or committing suicide.¹ This condition is caused by a complex combination of biological, environmental, and psychological factors.²

There are several types of depression, including major depressive disorder and seasonal affective disorder.³ After puberty, women are approximately twice as likely as men to develop depression.^{4 - 6} The available evidence suggests that depression can present differently in women as well. Overall, the symptoms of depression tend to be more severe in women than men, and certain symptoms, such as weight gain, appetite disturbance, and impaired sleep, are more common in women.^{6 , 7} Comorbid anxiety also occurs more frequently in women than in men.^{4 , 6}

Women can also experience perinatal depression, which occurs during pregnancy or after childbirth and is marked by severe anxiety, sadness, and fatigue. Women with perinatal depression may have trouble taking care of themselves or others.⁸ Other forms of depression are related to menstruation, such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder and perimenopausal depression.²

Depression is often treated with pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy (e.g., cognitive behavior therapy), or a combination of the two.^{4 , 9} Research suggests that the efficacy of certain antidepressants varies between women and men. Specifically, several studies have reported that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may be more effective at managing depression in women.^{4 , 5} However, the current evidence is inconclusive, and more research is needed to define any potential sex-specific differences in the efficacy of antidepressant therapies.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) invests in research that is investigating the causes of depression and methods to treat it effectively. One area of study involves developing methods to identify which treatments work best for specific individuals with depression. To do this, NIMH researchers are employing PET scans and MRI to learn more about the brains of people with major depressive disorder.¹⁰