Emotional abuse as a precipitating factor for depression in women

This study used a semi-structured interview format to assess the role of emotional abuse as a precipitating factor for depression in a sample of 40 women attending a women's therapy center. Results revealed that emotional abuse occurring in the year preceding the interview was associated with an increased likelihood of current major depression and with elevated scores on the Beck Depression Inventory. Our findings also indicated that the most prevalent domains of depressogenic emotional abuse in this sample of women were abuse in intimate relationships and harassment in the workplace. We suggest that these forms of abuse be integrated into the conceptualization of psychosocial risk factors for depression in women.