The purpose of this book is to present a spectrum of women's experiences with depression. The book is unique in presenting both qualitative and quantitative studies on various stages of women's experiences with depression including its psychological and social antecedents, its adverse consequences, and the impact of psychological and community interventions. Our aim has been to present some of the recurrent themes and vital links in this chain of experiences. One such common theme has to do with the importance of acquiring and maintaining control over the evaluation of self-worth by the individual. Stressful circumstances and negative social encounters may produce the greatest harm and consequent depression by depriving individuals' control over the processes involved in the evaluation of self-worth.

This book will be of interest to clinical psychologists, counsellors, psychiatrists, mental health practitioners and community service providers.

This book was published as a special issue of the Journal of Prevention and Intervention in the Community.