This article reviews selected research on gender differences in depres
sion in order to update the status of the literature and address conce
rns raised by the APA Task Force on women and depression. Recent resea
rch continues to provide considerable evidence that women experience h
igher rates of depression and that a variety of biological and psychol
ogical factors and their interactions must be considered to understand
gender differences. Methodological issues including the need to defin
e homogeneous subgroups, the effect of demographic variables, and sex
bias in the diagnosis and measurement of depression are discussed. Con
clusions are drawn that have implications for the prevention, identifi
cation and treatment of depression, and suggestions are made for resea
rch strategies.