Silent epidemic of depression in women in the middle east and north africa region emerging tribulation or fallacy? Emerging tribulation or fallacy?

Liyam Eloul, Aamal Ambusaidi*, Samir Al-Adawi

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

54 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: As the world is being gripped by economic depression, international psychological epidemiologists have amassed evidence to suggest that psychological depression and its variants are becoming leading contributors to the global burden of disease with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region being no exception.

AIM: The main aim of the present discourse, based on a review of the available literature, is to discuss critically whether women in the MENA region have a higher rate of psychological depression than those in other parts of the globe.

RESULT: From the present synthesis, it emerges that the rate of depression may not be necessarily unique to the region.

CONCLUSION: Although no society has totally overcome the marginalisation and lack of empowerment of women, in order to come to grips to this complex issue more vigorously designed epidemiological studies, using taxonomies that are standardised for cross-cultural populations, are needed to quantify the psychological functioning of women.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5-15
Number of pages11
JournalSultan Qaboos University Medical Journal
Volume9
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2009

Keywords

  • Depression in women
  • Gender issue
  • Islam
  • Middle East and North Africa
  • Review

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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