In a first-of-its-kind effort to illuminate the biochemical impact of trauma, researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center have discovered a connection between the quantity of cannabinoid receptors in the human brain, known as CB1 receptors, and post-traumatic stress disorder, the…
• May 15, 13 • Psychiatry and Mental Health News »
Depression impacts an astounding 20% - 23% of women at some point in their lives, thus qualifying as one of the most common public health problems in the world (Kessler et al. 1994b). This high prevalence in women is probably multifactorial, involving a complex interplay of genetic, neuroendocrine, psychosocial, and stress factors (Bifulco et al. 1998; Heim and Nemeroff 1999).
In this chapter, we examine the impact of gender on recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD), emphasizing the clinical features and treatment of the illness during three key periods of hormone transition: adolescence, pregnancy and the postpartum period, and the menopausal period. Clinical features and sex differences are described first, followed by a focus on recurrences and strategies for prevention.