---
title: Did SSRIs change what people thought of as depression in women?
description: Between 1985 and 2000, as SSRIs became available for PMDD and related conditions, popular media began describing menstruation, motherhood, and childbirth as p
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/assessing-the-impact-of-ssri-antidepressants-on-popular-notions-of-women-s-2004/
---

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- Did SSRIs change what people thought of as depression in women?

Study, 2004

# Did SSRIs change what people thought of as depression in women?

Between 1985 and 2000, as SSRIs became available for PMDD and related conditions, popular media began describing menstruation, motherhood, and childbirth as potential signs of depression.

 Early or limited evidence

American newspaper and magazine articles about depression from 1985 to 2000

## What they did

Researchers analyzed American newspaper and magazine articles about depression published between 1985 and 2000. They tracked how descriptions of women's depression changed over time, especially after SSRIs were introduced for PMDD, postpartum depression, and menopause-related depression.

## What they found

As SSRIs were marketed for women's hormonal conditions, media articles increasingly described normal women's life events (menstruation, motherhood, childbirth) as signs of depression that might need drug treatment. The range of conditions considered treatable depression expanded significantly.

## What it means for you

This study looks at media representation, not clinical evidence. It suggests that marketing and advertising may have influenced public beliefs about what counts as illness. This does not tell us whether PMDD or these other conditions are real or valid, only that they were increasingly portrayed as medical problems in popular media.

1985-2000

Time period studied

## About the study

Original title Assessing the impact of SSRI antidepressants on popular notions of women's depressive illness Authors Metzl JM, Angel J Journal Social science & medicine (1982) Year 2004 Study design Study What was tested Content analysis of media articles Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0277-9536(03)00369-1](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0277-9536(03)00369-1)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/)

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## Related studies

Review, 2012

Is depression linked to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause?

Survey study, 2002

What treatments work for depression linked to the menstrual cycle and PMDD?

Randomised trial, 2001

Do changing reproductive hormones disrupt the body's internal clock and cause mood disorders?

Review, 2011

Can estrogen hormones treat depression linked to the menstrual cycle?

Survey study, 2009

Can estrogen therapy help depression that worsens during hormonal cycle changes?

Review, 2004

How should PMDD be treated with antidepressants?

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