A Brief Psychotherapeutic Intervention with Depressed Middle-Aged Portuguese Women

Abstract

The line of research on middle-aged women's depression that we have been developing for over a decade has pointed to the frequency and severity of this disorder among Portuguese women, particularly less educated women. These women are more vulnerable and often receive a strictly medical response, which leaves little room for the elaboration of their complaints. We present a general overview of the results of this research line on depression in middle-aged women and the positive effect of a group intervention carried out in a health center where part of this research took place.

KEYWORDS:

• depression
• middle-age
• Portuguese women
• psychotherapeutic intervention

Acknowledgments

An earlier version of this paper was presented at the Symposium on Women, Power, & Aging, at Pace University in New York City, September 2010.