Clinical depression affects mood, mind, body and behavior.
Yet, because it often goes unrecognized, depression continues to cause unnecessary suffering. Women are disproportionately affected by depression, experiencing it at roughly twice the rate of men. Research continues to explore how the illness affects women and to identify new areas that hold promise of deepening our understanding. At the same time it is important to increase women's awareness of what is already known about depression, so that they seek early and appropriate treatment. No two people become depressed in exactly the same way.