Factors that influence a depression diagnosis

Clinical depression, Major Depressive Disorder, includes experiencing a depressed mood, suicidal thoughts, and much fatigue. Bipolar Depression is experiencing a depressive mood with the mania associated with bipolar disorder. Postpartum Depression is depression found in mothers after giving birth. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder is depressive moods that only occur during the menstrual phase. Persistent Depressive Disorder occurs almost every day for a two-year timeframe. 3% of participants age 20 to 24 were diagnosed with lifetime depression while only 4. 3% were diagnosed with lifetime depression over the age of 75” (Akhtar-Danesh & Landeen, 2007). Both of these age groups produced similar statistics for one-year depression. The study concluded that depression increases for those age 20 to 24 while depression decreases for the older participants. This is an older study and it only included those in Canada and not the United States.

Furthermore, an increase in income only decreased depression symptoms by 10 percent. Those with higher debt than assets were seen to experience depression symptoms than those with higher assets and lower debt. Zimmerman and Katesh concluded that the study gives the insight to help researchers by finding a treatment program for those with low income. Economic and employment status are both predictors that can be used to determine if a person will suffer from depression or depressive symptoms. Similar results were found in Akhtar-Danesh and Landeen study. In conclusion, it was determined that “low education level coincides with signs of depression” (Bjelland et al. However, this study included other health disparities as well such as old age. It was determined that older participants with a higher level of education suffered from depression later on in life.

Gender and Depression There are fewer studies that report the correlation between gender and depression when compared to other factors. Nevertheless, Gender Differences in Depression in Representative National Samples: Meta-Analyses of Diagnoses and Symptoms, collected data from over 90 nations using datasets published by their country alone and private research publications. Also, the participants were given the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. In the study, most were Caucasian men. Roughly “16 percent of participants reported symptoms that coincide with Major Depressive Disorder” (Warner et al. Meanwhile, roughly one-third of participants have depressive symptoms. Most of the soldiers experienced verbal abuse or sexual abuse. In addition, those suffering from depression with military experience showed to have the same results. Further research is needed to treat military personnel that suffer from depression.

In addition, entry level military personnel should have to participate in a course that provides them much information on depression and depressive symptoms. In conclusion, many factors coincided with depression. However, there is little research between gender and depression as well as education level and depression. , Mokonogho, J. , & Kumar, A. Racial and ethnic differences in depression: current perspectives. Neuropsychiatric Disease And Treatment, 15, 603-609. doi: 10. doi: 10. 1016/j. socscimed. Britton, P. , Ouimette, P. Retrieved from https://www. cdc. gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db303. pdf. Bulloch, A. Gender differences in depression in representative national samples: Meta-analyses of diagnoses and symptoms. Psychological Bulletin, 143(8), 783-822. doi: 10. 1037/bul0000102. Warner, C. , & Katon, W. Socioeconomic status, depression disparities, and financial strain: what lies behind the income-depression relationship. Health Economics, 14(12), 1197-1215.