Guanajuato, Gto., October 5, 2015. It is estimated that in Mexico, four out of ten patients that get treated in the public health system suffers depression, and because women are the most affected group, Dr. Martha Silvia Solis Ortíz, researcher at the University of Guanajuato, has centered her work in the study of this illness by registering brain activity.

Dr. Solis Ortíz, ascribed to the Department of Medical Sciences from Campus Leon, explains that this technique works for any physician, psychologist or who treats to determine if the depression symptoms present in the patient are a hormonal cause, and in this way, orient towards the appropriate treatment.

"The registry and analysis of electroencephalographic activity is a non-invasive and non-expensive technique", and can be applied in any health institution.

The academy revealed that the proportion of the population that suffers depression is twice greater in women than in men and the most accepted hypothesis is due to hormonal changes experienced since puberty.

Studying patients with depression symptoms in post-menopause stage is the focus of Dr. Solis Ortíz in the last years.

For their research, she analyzed the depressive symptoms from the patients and correlated the levels of progesterone and estrogen, among other hormones, and proved that depressed women present an alteration in electrical brain activity.

In the last analyzed cases, referent to women with mild or moderate depression, the treatment could include estrogen and complement with exercise and a proper diet, as well as more social interaction.

Dr. Silvia Solis reminded that diagnosis and treatment of the depression is not simple, besides, there is a stigma that causes people not to get help, therefore it is important to be alert in case symptoms such as sadness, irritability, sleep or eating disorders present.

She also added that some physical symptoms can manifest such as gastritis, stomachache, constipation, stiff back, neck pain, palpitations, sweating or shaking.

The results from this research were published by the magazine Psychology and will be exposed by Dr. Solis Ortíz within the National Mental Health Symposium that occurred past October 7 at Forum from Campus León.