Recent
research reveals that about one percent of the general population suffers from manic-
depression and five percent suffers
from major
depression during their lives. However, the incidence for depression in women is twice as high or more; as many as one in five American women has a history of depression during her lifetime. This paper
examines the causes and effects of depression in both young and older women. It examines existing medical research for both groups, identifies major differences in depression for young and older women and presents a conclusive analysis of observations.