title: Spontaneous recovery from depression in women: a qualitative study of vulnerabilities, strengths and resources.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To gain insight into the perceived vulnerability and restitution factors for anxiety/or depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus group discussion of seven married women recovered spontaneously from anxiety and/or depression, belonging to a lower middle class semi-urban community of Karachi.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Poverty, unemployment, abuse and on going difficulties were perceived as risk factors for depression. A reliable social support system, positive thinking approach, faith, prayers, and experiencing a "turning point" event were reported as factors that promoted recovery from anxiety and/or depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individual vulnerabilities, strengths and resources can have an important role in recovery from anxiety and/or depression in women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Family Medicine, The Aga Khan University, Karachi.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naeem
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mubeen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy*; D003376:Counseling; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013383:Suburban Population