Abstract

CARVALHO, Isalena Santos  and  COELHO, Vera Lúcia Decnop. Women in maturity and depressive complaint: sharing histories, reviewing challenges. PsicoUSF [online]. 2006, vol.11, n.1, pp. 113-122. ISSN 1413-8271.

In literature, feminine maturity tends to be characterized by menopause, departure of children from home, care or loss of aged parents and questioning about life choices. Another question associated is the possibility of depressive symptoms occurrence. In that perspective, this article aims at identifying events of maturity possibly related to feminine depression. Nine women with depression diagnosis, attended in a public hospital in Brasília, took part in a group of psychological intervention. The analysis of the encounters suggests that losses associated to their aging process, such as occurrence of physical limitations, modifications in their auto-image and in the interpersonal relations specific of maturity, as well as the fear of future familiar dependency, have contributed to the symptoms related above. The difficulty of elaborating new life projects, with depreciation of the personal value was another factor possibly related. It is necessary to evaluate challenges faced by women in maturity for an understanding of the depressive complaint and the development of intervention proposals.

Keywords : Maturity; Depression; Menopause; Aging; Group.

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