Women's Health - October 2004

Life's Challenges May Trigger Mood Disorder

Many of life's experiences that bring women great joy and fulfillment, such as close relationships, a promotion, having a baby, or buying a home, also can cause stress on her mental health, say experts at the Office on Women's Health, US Department of Health and Human Services.

And, sometimes, life's problems can trigger depression. Being fired from a job, getting divorced, losing a loved one, death in the family, and financial trouble, to name a few, all can be difficult and coping with the pressure may be troublesome.

These life events and stress can bring on feelings of sadness or depression or make a mood disorder harder to manage.

Changes in physical health also affect mental health, states the Office on Women's Health. Changes in the body's hormone levels from pregnancy and childbirth, or from menopause, can cause depression, anxiety, irritability, and tearfulness.

Depression also comes along with many illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, HIV, or autoimmune diseases.

Women More Often Depressed Than Men

Women suffer twice as often as men from most forms of depression and anxiety disorders, and nine times as often from eating disorders, according to government experts. The chance for depression in females in the general population is nearly twice as high (12 percent) as it is for males (6.6 percent).

Mood disorders is a category of mental health problems that includes all types of depression and bipolar disorder. Mood disorders are sometimes called affective disorders.

What causes mood disorders is not well known. There are chemicals in the brain, called endorphins, that are responsible for positive moods. Other chemicals in the brain, called neurotransmitters, regulate endorphins.

Most likely, depression (and other mood disorders) is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Life events (such as unwanted changes in life) may also contribute to a depressed mood.

Experts say affective disorders often affect more than one family member, and that many factors are involved.

The factors are usually both genetic and environmental, where a combination of genes from both parents, in addition to unknown environmental factors, produce the trait or condition.

Often one gender (either males or females) is affected more frequently than the other in multifactorial traits. There appears to be a different threshold of expression, which means that one gender is more likely to show the problem over the other gender.

Anyone can feel sad or depressed at times. However, mood disorders are more intense and difficult to manage than normal feelings of sadness. Children, adolescents, or adults who have a parent with a mood disorder have a greater chance of also having a mood disorder.

However, life events and stress can expose or exaggerate feelings of sadness or depression, making the feelings more difficult to manage.

Once a person in the family has this diagnosis, the chance for their siblings or children to have the same diagnosis is increased. In addition, relatives of persons with depression are also at increased risk for bipolar disorder (manic depression).

The chance for manic depression (or bipolar disorder) in males and females in the general population is about 1 percent. Once a person in the family has this diagnosis, the chance for their siblings or children to have the same diagnosis is increased. In addition, relatives of persons with manic depression are also at increased risk for depression.

Types of Mood Disorders

The following are the most common types of mood disorders:

major depression
A two-week period or longer of a depressed or irritable mood or a noticeable decrease in interest or pleasure in usual activities, along with other signs of a mood disorder.

dysthymia (dysthymic disorder)
A chronic, low-grade, depressed or irritable mood for at least one year.

manic depression (bipolar disorder)
At least one episode of a depressed or irritable mood and at least one period of a manic (persistently elevated) mood.

mood disorder due to a general medical condition
Many medical illnesses (including cancer, injuries, infections, and chronic medical illnesses) can trigger symptoms of depression.

substance-induced mood disorder
Symptoms of depression that are due to the effects of medication, drug abuse, exposure to toxins, or other forms of treatment.

Depending upon age and the type of mood disorder present, a person may exhibit different symptoms of depression.

Always consult your physician for more information.