Why do women suffer more from this, according to a neurophysiologist?

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According to data European Health Study in Spaincarried out in 2020 by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), 7.1% of Spanish women suffer from depressive disorders, compared to 3.5% of men. and this also reaches its maximum in their fertile age.

For the doctor Mª Angeles Idiazabal, clinical neurophysiologist and director INCIA Neurocognitive InstituteSocial, psychological and biological factors are involved in the occurrence of diseases in women.” the specific roles of each gender in society, life stress, propensity for coping strategies, and the influence of sex hormones and genetic factors.– he explains.

According to the doctor, several biological processes are involved in women’s susceptibility to depression, such as genetically determined vulnerability, hormonal fluctuations associated with reproduction, as well as excessive sensitivity to these hormonal fluctuations of brain systems that interfere with depressive states. “Differences in the perception of stress between men and women, as well as biological differences in the response to stress, are thought to be factors that contribute to women’s greater vulnerability to depression,” he notes.

“Women are more susceptible than men to stress-induced depression and changes in photoperiod (80% of people with seasonal affective disorder are women),” he continues. “Depression in women can develop at different phases of the reproductive cycle (premenstrual dysphoric disorder, depression during pregnancy, postpartum depressive symptoms and menopausal depression). Additionally, other reproductive circumstances or events, such as infertility, miscarriage, oral contraceptive pills, and hormone replacement therapy, can also cause depression in women.”

Additionally, when women are depressed, they experience greater activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis than men, and that menopause with estrogen loss demonstrates the greatest dysregulation of the HPA axis. It is possible that the constantly changing steroid environment contributes to these phenomena and vulnerability to depression.

How can depression be treated?

According to the doctor, Treatment for depression may include psychosocial therapy, pharmacotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy.although in some cases these treatments are ineffective or cause significant side effects.

Perhaps the most unknown of these treatments is the latter. As the doctor explains to us, “there are two methods of non-invasive brain stimulation: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) And Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Both methods are able to modulate cortical activity and induce neurochemical and hormonal changes because they selectively stimulate certain brain regions, which, depending on the protocol used, leads to an increase or decrease in neuronal excitability. “Both rTMS and tDCS are neuromodulation techniques that induce changes in neuronal plasticity that persist over time, allowing functional modulation of neural circuits associated with disease symptoms.”

In cases where other treatments are ineffective, rTMS treatment is a first-line therapeutic tool. which significantly improves the quality of life of patients with depression. “About 60% of patients respond to treatment with improvement in their symptoms, and 30-40% achieve complete remission of depressive symptoms. Treatment of depression with rTMS has been approved by the FDA since 2008,” explains the doctor.

Other recommendations for people with depression

According to the doctor, depression is a complex and multifactorial disease that requires an integrated approach to both prevention and treatment. In addition to medical and psychological treatment, Lifestyle, diet, exercise and adequate sleep play a key role in preventing and improving symptoms of depression.

“He regular exercise “This is one of the most effective interventions for improving and preventing depression,” he notes. “Its benefits are well documented and affect both the physical and mental levels. We know that exercise helps reduce cortisol, the stress hormone that increases in people with depression, improves sleep quality, which is important for regulating mood, and stimulates neuroplasticity and the creation of new neural connections, which improves mood and cognitive performance. function. Activities such as walking, running, swimming or cycling are very beneficial. “At least 30 minutes of moderate exercise 3-5 days a week is recommended.”

“Eat an adequate diet This is extremely important for mental health,” continues the specialist. “The gut microbiota influences the production of key neurotransmitters such as serotonin (90% of serotonin is produced in the gut) and is connected to the brain through the gut-brain axis. “Foods rich in tryptophan, omega-3s, antioxidants, prebiotics and probiotics are essential for both the prevention and treatment of depression.”

Sleep correctly This is also the key to preventing depression. “Adequate and restorative sleep allows the brain to regulate emotions and restore the neurochemical balance needed to maintain a stable mood,” says Idiazabal. “Restoring the sleep cycle is a fundamental part of treating depression. Improving sleep quality can help relieve symptoms of depression and increase the effectiveness of other treatments, such as medication or psychological therapy,” he concludes.