Assessing unipolar mood disorders in women.

Among unipolar mood disorders, major depressive disorder (MDD) has traditionally been the most widely studied. There is, however, an alarming lack of extant research on the more mild mood disorders. Recent findings indicate that, collectively, milder unipolar mood disorders, such as dysthymic disorder (DD), and conditions specific to women, such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and postpartum depression, functionally impair a large population of women. The course, mechanisms, and treatments of these illnesses are outlined, and specific areas of concern, including current available treatment applicability, gender differences in psychiatric testing, and the use of biological markers for the detection of illness, are detailed. Directions for future research are presented.