Evaluation of women's mental health: Delineation of the field, and needs and steps toward a consensus

Mental health studies that investigate the behavior, mood, perception, cognition, and biology associated with specific conditions of women or with situations characterized by substantial gender differences are proliferating in number and progressing in quality, depth, and scope. To solidify the field, there is a need for a consensus on definitions and diagnostic criteria, standardized clinical assessment procedures, and large-scale interdisciplinary collaborative efforts to effectively study and illuminate the diversified aspects of women's mental health. Under a professional services contract with the National Institute of Mental Health, researchers who investigate women's mental health met during the American Psychiatric Association (APA) meeting in San Diego, California, on May 19, 1997. The 18 participants discussed key clinical and biological assessments and subsequently submitted papers reflecting scientific conclusions and recommendations for standardizing these assessments. It was agreed that a unified assessment instrument would be beneficial, but due to the widespread requirements and numerous factors that are critical in assessing all areas of women's health, situation-specific forms are often needed. The background, rationale, and process of the meeting are described here, whereas the details and recommendations are described in individual position papers.