Can depression worsen in women with time?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am in discussion for marriage with a girl who has depression. However, I do not know at what level it is. As of now, I see these issues. She keeps talking constantly for one hour and thirty minutes. She keeps talking about one subject until we change it. We speak about something, and then she starts talking about that topic again.

She is afraid to meet new people. She overthinks and probably thinks a lot. She has some pimples or an acne problem (I hope it will not be on the whole body). Her mother also had strange behavior.

Can these issues be solved with medicines or treatments?
Is this a major problem?
Is this hereditary?
What is the likelihood that this could become a major problem in the future?

Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understood your concern.

As per your mentioned symptoms and history, she might be going through minor depression or anxiety. She needs to be evaluated in detail by mental status examination and detailed history. Psychological assessment is also required, mainly TAT (thematic apperception test) and the Rorschach, to understand and confirm the diagnosis.

As you mentioned, she was afraid to meet new people, which may be because of her personality or based on past bad experiences with people. She overthinks a lot, but she overthinks about what and whether her overthinking affects her personal, professional, and social life or not.

Acne is common at this age, and it is mostly on the face or neck region, not the full body, so there is no need to worry about acne. It is because of hormonal changes in the body. Yes, with treatment, it will definitely be resolved.

What kind of strange behavior did her mother have?
Can you elaborate on her mother’s behavior?

As per your mentioned details, it looks like a minor problem. Yes, any psychiatric illness runs genetically, but one cannot say it occurs in offspring. That depends on family environment and stress. Yes, if a stressful environment or any other incidents affect her, it may lead to a major problem in the future. Support from family is most important, and physical exercise is also helpful to overcome such problems.

I hope that this answers your query.

Kindly follow up if you have more doubts.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

I genuinely feel she should consult a psychiatrist in person. A face-to-face consultation is important so that the doctor can take a detailed history and perform a proper mental status examination. Right now, since we do not really know what exactly she is thinking and she may not openly share everything, it becomes difficult to fully understand what is going on internally.

That is why a psychological assessment would be very helpful. Tests like TAT (thematic apperception test, where she is shown pictures and asked to make up stories, which helps reveal hidden emotions and thinking patterns) and the Rorschach test (an inkblot test where she describes what she sees, which gives clues about personality and emotional state) can give deeper insight into her thought patterns, emotions, and personality, which she might not be able to express in words.

Based on the assessment, treatment can then be started to help her manage and control her thoughts better, improve emotional regulation, and support her overall mental well-being.

I hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.