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A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats
Published on: February 22, 2018
The relationship between major depression and marital disruption is bidirectional
Andrew G Bulloch1, Jeanne V Williams, Dina H Lavorato
1Department of Community Health Sciences and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 4N1. bulloch@ucalgary.ca
Depression and Anxiety
|October 3, 2009
Summary
Major depression increases the risk of marital separation or divorce. Separated or divorced individuals also face a higher risk of developing major depression, indicating a significant interplay between the two.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Epidemiology
- Sociology
Background:
- Marital status is a significant factor in psychiatric disorder epidemiology.
- Major depression is highly prevalent among separated, divorced, or widowed individuals.
- Existing research is divided on the causal relationship between marital disruption and major depression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether major depression influences changes in marital status.
- To examine if marital status influences the incidence of major depression.
Main Methods:
- Utilized longitudinal data from the Canadian National Population Health Survey (1994-2004).
- Employed proportional hazards models with time-varying covariates for analysis.
Main Results:
- Major depression did not affect transitions to married or common-law statuses.
- Exposure to major depression doubled the risk of transitioning from married or common-law to separated or divorced status (HR=2.0).
- Separated or divorced individuals had a 30% increased risk of developing major depression (HR=1.3).
Conclusions:
- The high prevalence of major depression in separated/divorced individuals results from a bidirectional relationship.
- Major depression increases the risk of marital disruption.
- Separated or divorced marital status increases the risk of developing major depression.
- A clinically significant interplay exists, necessitating awareness of depression's impact on relationships.
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