Depression: Its Effects on African American Women - Essay Example

In many cases, Depression can be diagnosed through a matrix grouping that clearly details anatomical exertions that have a dramatic effect on the psychological and physical well being of a clinically depressed patient. The following is a detailed list of depression symptom facilitators: As you can see, four of the aforementioned depression facilitators can cause potentially fatal effects on the clinically depressed patient. These facilitators also prove that depression can be covert in its attack, as many of these variables go unnoticed in scenarios where they are introduced individually to the life of the depressed patient.

The societal reality of a patient's life has a major effect on that patient being diagnosed with depression. The stress factors related to living an impoverished life sets the stage for the depression based facilitators that have been previously mentioned. The intensity, continuity and method of societal variances play a significant role in the exacerbation rate of depression in the clinically depressed patient. These factors clearly detail an environment where African American women suffer from depression on an almost exclusive basis due to the poverty ratios that prevents them from realizing the societal benefits of a balance proportional distribution of wealth.

These factors increase the effect and onset of the following risk factors faced by women of all races:Family history of mood disordersPersonal past history of mood disorders in early reproductive yearsLoss of a parent before the age of 10 yearsChildhood history of physical or sexual abuseUse of an oral contraceptive, especially one with high progesterone contentUse of gonadotropin stimulants as part of infertility treatmentPersistent psychosocial stressors (e.g., loss of a job)Loss of social support system or the threat of such a lossDepression in WomenHealthyPlace.

comWhile these variables can occur in all classes of society, they clearly happen in a dramatically increased manner in impoverished societal environments where citizens suffer from a lack of cosmopolitan social behavior