title: Silent Epidemic of Depression in Women in the Middle East and North Africa Region: Emerging tribulation or fallacy?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As the world is being gripped by economic depression, international psychological epidemiologists have amassed evidence to suggest that psychological depression and its variants are becoming leading contributors to the global burden of disease with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region being no exception.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The main aim of the present discourse, based on a review of the available literature, is to discuss critically whether women in the MENA region have a higher rate of psychological depression than those in other parts of the globe.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the present synthesis, it emerges that the rate of depression may not be necessarily unique to the region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although no society has totally overcome the marginalisation and lack of empowerment of women, in order to come to grips to this complex issue more vigorously designed epidemiological studies, using taxonomies that are standardised for cross-cultural populations, are needed to quantify the psychological functioning of women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioural Medicine, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman;
authors.forename: Liyam
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eloul
authors.forename: Aamal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ambusaidi
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Adawi