الفهرس 
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Abstract
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VI. SUtt1ARY AND CONClUSIONS
Depressive disorders are perhaps the most distressful and
also among the most common disorders that affect human beings.
This study was made to investigate some aspects of depression
as regard etiology and its presentations among cultures.
The theoretical part of the research comprised seven
chapters.
In the first chapter, the current concept of depressive
disorder and the trial to include the phenomenon in an appropriate
classification.
In the second chapter, the symptomatology of depression
and its various presentations through different ages of life
cycle and atypical presentations.
In the third chapter: the pyschodynamic aspects of depression,
starting from Abraham and Frued passing through schools
that described the pyschopathology & cognition of depression.
The fourth chapter, reviewed the environmental factors
extending throughout the early childhood and adult environment
to the moment of development of the depressive episode,
discussing the early separation and recent life events with
various conflicting views about environment and depression.
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In the fifth chapter, some of the biological aspects of
depression especially in the areas of sleep, circardian
rythm, neuroendocrinology and neurotransmitters were
reviewed.
In the six chapter, the premorbid personality traits,
its effect as a predisposing factor for depression, reaction
to environment and coloring of the depressive presentation
of the individual.
In the seventh chapter, some transcultural aspects of
depression, among Arab Countries and Some Western Studies
were reviewed.
The practical part comprised the statistical study and
the results of this study. The statistical study included
studying of 40 Egyptian depressives from Outpatient
Clinic of Benha University Hospital and 50 Saudi depress~_
ives from a state Hospital draining an urban area. Each
group Categorized into, depressive episode, recurrent depressive
episode and dysthymia.
The main results were:
1. There was an early age of onset in Saudis for all
subtypes than Egyptian depressives, also there was underrrepresentation~
Saudi females.
2. In the case of dysthymia it was noticed an increase
in Saudi University graduated than Egyptian one, while,
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there was increase in the Egyptian illeterate than Saudi one
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of the same disorder, as a result Egyptian houswives pressented
more than Saudi in dysthymia. Also, positive family
history of depression in dysthymic Saudi was more than
Egyptian.
3. Work, economic and marital stresses were presented more
by the Egyptian depressives than Saudi one, while, Saudi presented
family stress little more than Egyptian. Also, intergenerational
conflict were relatively more presented by
Saudis.
4. Pessimism as a premorbid trait was presented more in
Egyptian major depressive episode and recurrent depressives
than Saudis, while social withdrawal and suspiciousness were
presented more in Saudi dysthymia.
5. Diurinal mood variation was presented more in all Egyptian
depressive than Saudi depressives.
6. Guilt and shame were more presented by Egyptian recurrent
depression and depressive episode than Saudis of both subtypes.
7. Pain including headache and backache was one of the main
physical presentation especially by all Saudi depressives.
8. Death wishes was presented more in both cultures than
suicidal acts that is condemned by Islamic religion.
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CONCLUSIONS:
There was no marked significant difference was detected
between both cultures as regard etiology and cLinical presentations
of depressive states, except in some points that will
be mentioned later, the absence of marked differnece may be
attributed to:
1. Cultural similarities in many aspects e.g. the language,
the religion, the relative association of many cultural
belifs as (sorcery, devil, jinn, possession and evil eye),
some association as regard past history and the same
aspirations of many Arabs toward Arab nationalism and
urbanization.
2. The Saudi sample was taken from central town (Jeddah),
so, findings from this study cannot be generalized to
other rural areas of the Saudi Arabia. Therefore, another
studies of depressive states in rural areas of Saudi
Arabia are recommended.
The main points of difference between both cultures:
i- The state of Saudi woman and her typical model of
learned helplessness, her awareness of her role in life even
in child rearing attitude is more deficient than that of
Egyptian one. Although there is some changes in the personal
and cultural belief toward her e;g. education and employment,
but the change is expressed in a traditional idiom.
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ii- The dominance of economic and work stresses in Egyptian
depressives may reflect the economic state of Egypt, while dominance
of family and marital stresses in Saudi depressives may be
due to abuse of polygamous marriage in some cases and its subsequent
problems.
iii- The transition phase of Saudis associated with disturbed
sense of identity due to rapid sociocultural changes
may be the main cause of intergenerational conflict.
iv- Presentation of guilt was more marked in Egyptian
depressives than Saudi one, this may be due to heavy individual
reliance on the support of the community and complete
identification with the group of Saudis than Egyptian.
* Difference between findings in this study and other Western
Studies concerned mainly in the area of SUIcide and guilt
in some Western studies, difference in suicide has a
religious aspect and difference in guilt is related to
the practice of child rearing attitude.