Depression in Women: Treatment

Risk factors for depression in women

The women can become victims of the depression due to number of different but interrelated factors. The depression is developed easily in women with low socioeconomic status. The women are more likely to develop depression with considering the souorces of stress. The women may work very hard with their low socioeconomic status in the issues of unemployment and underemployment, lack of education and single parenthood. The marital conflict, dissatisfaction, past sexual or physical abuse and role strain can be some other risk factors of depression.

Treating depression in women

The treatment is normally same for the women suffering from the depression. Psychotherapy and antidepressant therapy are the main treatment approaches but there can be some special treatment considerations for depression in women as well.

Depression and the Reproductive Cycle

There is a great influence of the hormones related to the reproductive cycle on the woman’s mood. Therefore doctors should always look the connection between depressive symptoms and female reproductive cycle. They should consider whether depression is connected with the menstrual period and possible effect of PMS. It can also be in pregmant women who are struggling with complications and they are concerned about vast changes undergoing in their body. There might be women struggling with baby blues after recently giving birth. The depression can trigger in the women with all these milestones in the reproductive cycle.

Relationship Issues and Role Strain

There is special role of the interpersonal issues and role strain in the female depression. These problems can be directed with the psychotherapy. The interpersonal relationships can be improved and negative thinking can be reduced with the interpersonal therapy and cognitive behavior therapy.

Treatment Modifications

There should be modification in the specific aspects of treatment in women due to female biological differences. The lower doses should be given to women in the beginning. The women can have the side effects very easily than men therefore their medication should be monitored closely. The women tend to require the same treatment for other condition like anxiety disorders and eating disorders.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder

The women are well aware of the premenstrual syndrome. Bloating, moodiness and fatigue can be some unwelcome symptoms which can appear every month in women at the same time in the menstrual cycle. These symoptoms can be uncomfortable in most women but not disabling. These symptoms can be distressing and disabling in every woman out of ten to premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). It can cause severe depression, irritability and other mood disturbances in women. These symptoms normally start about 10 to 14 days before their period and may improve withing few days of its start.

There can be feelings of sadness, tension and anxiety in women with premenstrual dysphorix disorder. They can have panic attacks and persistent irritability or anger. The women may lose their interest in their daily activities and they have troubles in concentrating. They can have feelings of fatigue or low energy and their sleep is disturbed. Their feelings are out of control and there can be physical symptoms like muscle pain, breast tenderness, headaches and bloating.

Self-help for PMDD

The women can take many steps to improve symptoms of PMDD. They need to make adjustments in their lifestyle.

The depressed women should take aerobic exercises regularly to reduce the symptoms of PMDD. These women should not use fatty foods, salt and alcohol and they should eat plenty of complex carbohydrates.

Nutritional supplements like vitamin B-6, calcium, magnesium and vitamin E are also very good for women suffering from PMDD. The herbal supplements like chaste tree berry and evening primrose are also very effective treatment of PMDD. Different techniques should be used to reduce stress. Yoga and medications are particularly effective.