UPMC Health System's Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic has developed a treatment program that studies the special problems and needs of women with depression. The purpose of this research study is to determine whether an increased frequency of psychotherapy can prevent recurrence of depression in women who have a history of the illness. While it is normal to feel blue now and then, especially during difficult times, if the feelings of sadness last more than a few weeks, an individual may be suffering from depression. Depression is the most common and the most treatable of all mental illnesses.
Clinical depression is a complex illness that can be triggered by many things.
It has been associated with the loss of a loved one, physical illness, job changes and hormone changes related to pregnancy or menopause. Women are faced with additional environmental stresses that may leave them more vulnerable to depression than men. Many women must cope with employment discrimination, single parenthood and conflicts between work and home. Early treatment for depression is vital because the more episodes a woman has, the greater her chance of becoming depressed again. According to doctors at UPMC, women need special treatment for depression because not all women wish to or are able to take medications.