Common mental disorders throughout the female life cycle

Abstract

Objective: To understand and learn about CMD among women in order to spread greater knowledge about the topic among health professionals. Methods: This is an integrative literature review based on PubMed, using the descriptors: Common mental disorder AND women, using previously established filters and criteria. Results: Nineteen articles were selected. The articles show the worrying reality for public health in view of women's susceptibility to Common Mental Disorders (CMD) throughout their lives. CMD refers to a group of symptoms that cause multiple aspects of quality of life to deteriorate. Depression in women is twice as high as in men, and they are more likely to experience anxiety, with a lifetime prevalence of 30.5%, compared to 19.2% in men. The identification of the different roles played by women, leading to functional overload, causes sleep fragmentation and stress, increasing vulnerability to mental illness. Final considerations: Not only is the relevance of women's role in society undeniable despite its complexity, but so is the importance of understanding their lived reality, identifying different strategies and public policies to promote awareness of CMDs, as well as prevention and treatment strategies.