the 1960s and 1970s (Leon, Kerman & Wickramaratne, 1993, p. 756).
In addition, women who suffer complications in pregnancy are more likely to be subject to the possibility of depression than other people (The problem, 1993, p. 9). These women will also be more likely to worry about their child's vulnerability to illness. They may become overprotective or have trouble separating themselves from their children. Furthermore, children who have such mothers not only see a doctor too often, but they may also become withdrawn and depressed. They may experience psychosomatic headaches and stomach distress (Schroepfer, 1993, p. 78).
Although the gender, age, and period of highest risks have been demonstrated in some studies, these analyses do not elucidate the reasons for these elevated risks. The rate increase corresponds to a period of increased substance abuse, political turmoil, and social instability in the United States. However, without further investigation, such as cross-cultural comparisons, the causes will not be isolated. Furthermore, those born after World War II may be more likely to label a problem a "mental disorder," whether or not it is. However, these artifactual explanations have credence and should be examined (Leon, Kerman & Wickramaratne, 1993, p. 756).
The probability that an individual will suffer from a major depressive episode is influenced by a number of risk factors, including gender, premature parental loss, exposure to pathogenic parental rearing, personality, a history of traumatic events, a previous history of major depression, low social support, recent stressful life events and difficulties, and predisposing genetic influences (Kendler & et al., 1993, p. 1139).
Several attempts have been made to combine these and other putative risk factors for major depression into integrated etiologic models. Furthermore, an increasing number of studies have examined the impact of several risk facto...