The most common depression among women and people isolated

Women have between 1.5 and two times more likely to experience a depressive episode than men, shows a study of the Research Branch of evaluation studies and statistics (Drees), which also highlights the vulnerability of isolated people with this disease.
To study the risk factors for depressive episodes in the general population, the Drees resumed three studies on this theme: the investigation of mental health in the general population 1999-2003 (Drees and WHO), the health barometer 2004-2005 the National Institute for Prevention and Health Education (INPE) and the decennial health survey 2002-2003 (INSEE and Drees).

The analysis shows that age, education, marital and employment status identical, a woman has between 1.5 and two times more likely than men to experience a depressive episode. However, the gap between men and women cope with depressive disorders must be qualified, because of a possible bias of underreporting.

It seems that the economic and social situation is closely linked to risk of depression: the fabric of family and relationship on the one hand, and employability on the other hand, reduce the risk of depressive disorders.

The risk of experiencing a single episode of depression is between 1.5 and 2.4 times higher than for a married person. The analysis also shows that the circumstances of a break of a couple (bereavement or separation) influence the depressive risk.

Regarding the impact of the occupation, the study shows that the prevalence of depressive episode among those employed is a three or lower than people who are not working points.

The study also shows that the risk of experiencing a depressive episode is not constant throughout life. While the impact of age on depression is less marked than that of the conditions of personal and professional life, it seems that people aged 60 to 75 years are less vulnerable to the younger depressive disorders.

"This observation, however, needs to be qualified, because people living in institutions (nursing homes or nursing facilities) have little or no representation in the samples studied," the authors say.

Finally, the study shows that the risk factors of economic and social order remain dominant for major depressive episodes.