I. Thesis statement: Major depression is a multifactorial disorder that affects women at a higher rate than it affects men. A. Definition of Major Depression
A. Gender, Parental loss, Parental rearing, Personality, Traumatic Events, Social, Genetic Influences
III. Sample Study: Kendler, & et al.
1. Treatment of Temporal Depression
It has been noticed in many prevalence studies and in the few incidence studies that rates of depression are highest in females. Explanations for these differences include genetic, biological, and sociological hypotheses. It is the thesis of this research that major depression is a multifactorial disorder that affects women at a higher rate than it affects men.
Major, or clinical, depressive disorder is characterized by periods of dysphoria, fatigue, hopelessness, and sleep and appetite disturbances lasting at least one week (Leon, Lerman, & Wickramaratne, 1993, p. 754). The most obvious aspect of depression is a marked reduction in the frequency of certain kinds of activity and an increase in the frequency of others, usually avoidance and escape. The clinical definition of depression is an emotional state with retardation of psychomotor and thought processes, a depressive emotional reaction, feelings of guilt or criticism, and delusions of unworthiness (Friedman & Katz, 1974, p. 31).
Clinicians have noted rising rates of depression in adolescents and young adults. Although some reports suggest that the female predominance in rates of depression is narrowing, recent data does not support that. The gender gap has not diminished as the overall rates have increased over time. Statistical tests show additive effects of age, period, and gender, but no interactions. The findings illustrate that women are almost twice as likely to become depressed by age 35 as are men. The likelihood of a first major depressive episode is elevated between ages 16 and 25 and was highest during ...