Edak Okwong, a neuropsychiatrist at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Calabar, has disclosed that one out of every five Nigerians has experienced depression, adding that women are twice more vulnerable.

Ms Okwong stated this in an interview on Tuesday in Calabar.

The Neuropsychiatrist said although many scientists had come up with possible reasons why women were more predisposed to depression, social issues were some of the major causes.

“In Nigeria, one out of every five persons has experienced depression, and women are twice more affected; scientists say it may be as a result of hormonal changes or less neurotransmitters such as serotonin in a woman’s brain,” Ms Okwong explained. “However, the social issues with women are there, such as less empowerment which makes them unable to settle some needs and sink into anxiety and depression.”

She added that there “is also the issue of domestic violence in which many women are victims and have this feeling of entrapment; this powerless situation makes women depressed.”

According to Ms Okwong, depression can affect a person’s sleep by making them not sleep well or sleep excessively, eat ravenously and gain weight, adversely affecting concentration and performance and filling the mind with negative thoughts.

(NAN)