Depression in Childbearing-aged Women

The leading cause of disability worldwide is Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). It impacts women at a significantly higher rate than men. There are several socioeconomic and cultural factors that make women more vulnerable to MDD. It is important for providers to be familiar with and utilize the Patient Health Questionaire-9 and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to screen for those with depression. In reviewing the literature, treatments for women include pharmacological therapies, psychological therapies, and integrative therapies. It is valuable to be familiar with the variety of therapies available to women and what the risks and benefits are, particularly regarding pregnancy. Women often have concerns regarding risks of treatments during pregnancy. Being able to educate women on their options is vital to patient care. As Leinenger’s Sunrise Model shows, making a joint decision with a patient with respect to culture, values, and desires improves outcomes of treatment. A presentation on the treatment modalities was given to a group of primary care providers. Their feedback demonstrated the importance of mētis found from women’s stories