---
title: Is depression being missed in women's health care? | Niyora
description: Depression is twice as common in women as in men and occurs in as many as 21% of women over their lifetime. Doctors often miss it because depression hides beh
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/recognition-of-depression-in-obstetric-gynecology-practices-1995/
---

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- Is depression being missed in women's health care?

Survey study, 1995

# Is depression being missed in women's health care?

Depression is twice as common in women as in men and occurs in as many as 21% of women over their lifetime. Doctors often miss it because depression hides behind complaints about other gynecologic problems.

 Early or limited evidence

Women (literature review)

## What they did

Reviewed research on depression in women, with focus on how it presents in obstetric and gynecology practices.

## What they found

Depression occurs twice as often in women as in men. The lifetime risk of major depression in women is estimated as high as 21%. Less severe depression (mild depression and chronic mild depression) is also common and causes problems. Depression often goes unrecognized because it masks behind complaints about other gynecologic conditions.

## What it means for you

Depression is a serious and common health problem for women that doctors may miss because women describe symptoms related to other gynecologic issues. This is a literature review that summarizes existing research rather than providing new evidence from a specific study.

2 times

how often depression occurs in women compared to men

21%

estimated lifetime risk of major depression in women

## About the study

Original title Recognition of depression in obstetric/gynecology practices Authors Yonkers KA, Chantilis SJ Journal American journal of obstetrics and gynecology Year 1995 Study design Survey study What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0002-9378(95)90295-3](https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9378(95)90295-3)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

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Randomised trial, 2013

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Non-randomised trial, 2008

Do mood, memory, and food cravings worsen during the luteal phase in women with PMDD?

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