Critical Appraisal/Synthesis Matrix (5 Articles)

Author/Date	Aim of Study	Type of literature + Type of method	Result/Conclusion	Strengths + Limitations	Thematic Codings	Setting/ Context
N Vogelzangs, HE Duivis, ATF Beekman, C Kluft, J Neuteboom, W Hoogendijk, JH Smit, P de Jonge and BWJH Penninx (2012)	To acknowledge more about the correlation between depressive disorders and antidepressant medication and also with inflammation within the body.	Research Article & Cohort Research Method	The conclusion of this study confirmed that "immune dysregulation" was present in depressed people, which showed a clear association of inflammation with depression.	The strength of this article was that the participants of the study were all a part of a cohort group based upon their depressive disorder. The limitations of this study was that it only looked for inflammation within the body to associate with depressive disorder, there could have been other health issues that could correlate.	An association between inflammation and depressive disorder. Men showed more signs of this association.	The Netherlands Study of Depression   and Anxiety (NESDA) as    a Cohort  Study.
Tasneem Kathree, One M Selohilwe, Arvin Bhana and Inge Petersen (2014)	To find out what causes postnatal depression and depressive disorders in women, and how the environment they live in effect this more, in a negative way.	Research Article & Ethnography Research Method	It concluded that post natal depression in women in Africa had many factors surrounding it, such as; "Poverty, unwanted pregnancy and interpersonal conflict including partner rejection and associated lack of mater- ial and social support as well as conflicts including do- mestic violence," (Kathree, 2014).	The strength of this article was that it focused on only postnatal women, and observed them without any interference, letting the study be natural. The limitations were that it followed physically, on physical observation, maybe they should have observed medically into health and what causes this after giving birth.	Postnatal depression in woman associated with the environment and the way they lived their life.	community health centre (CHC) in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda dis-trict in the North West Province.
Theresa S. Betancourt, ScD, MA, Rochelle Frounfelker, MPH, MSSW, Tej Mishra, MPH, Aweis Hussein, and Rita Falzarano, BA (2015)	To address mental health disparities in children caused by the barriers coming from a different culture and also the different culture it self.	Research Article & Participatory Action Research Method	The conclusion of this study was that there are many barriers due to culture, causing health disparities such as depressive disorders in children. Also, that mental health screening tools are to be made in order to help children like these who live in diverse populations, and have barriers which don't allow them to openly express themselves.	The strength of this article was that it allowed participants to get help from their community from the community’s participation in helping these children. The limitations were again the barriers themselves, did the children really understand what was going on during this research, an dhow well did they understand and will they be able to take control of these health disparities if the barriers were present while this research was taking place.	Community involvement is essential to helping these children. The barriers are a major cause of these health disparities.	Somali Bantu and Bhutanese refugees living in the Greater Boston and Springfield, Massa-chusetts, area between 2011 and 2014.
Xu, F., Austin, M., Reilly, N., Hilder, L., & Sullivan, E. A. (2012)	To check and further improve the current policies in place to offer medical care to perinatal women who are going through depressive disorders.	Research Article & Policy Method	The conclusion of this study was that it "confirms the pattern of depressive disorder hospital admissions" from past studies, concluding that the policy currently in play is governing prenatal depression in the right way. Also, that while prenatal depression is being taken care of, we need to also focus on postpartum depression.	The strength of this article was that it focused on pregnant women in their perinatal period and observed how medical places were giving care to them and how that matched with the current policies. The limitations were that they did not try anything new in order to improve the care given.	Perinatal women with some sort of depressive disorder. Impact on not only the mother but immediate family also the baby.	New South Wales (NSW) & Midwives Data Collection (MDC)
Maddux, R. E., & Johansson, H. (2014)	To check which treatments are right and which are wrong for individuals with depressive disorders.	Research Article & Practice Method	The conclusion of this study was that there are specific treatments that work for certain types of disorders and some only for one type or something like this. There is a criteria for each type of depressive disorder.	The strength of this article was that it focused on only one type of depressive disorder, for which the results mostly could be generalized. The limitations on this article was that we do not know for sure for which depressive disorders these can exactly be generalized providing the same results.	DPD depressive disorder. Treatments which work.	A patient who was treated at a University-affiliated psychiatric clinic over approximately 12 years.

Synthesis Matrix/Critical Appraisal