Are gender differences in depression explained by gender differences in co-morbid anxiety?

This review tested the hypothesis that gender differences in depression rates are a function of gender differences in co-morbid anxiety disorders.

We identified studies using diagnostic criteria, and reporting rates of pure depression, pure anxiety and co-morbid depression and anxiety, separately for females and males. The results of these studies were examined to assess the level of support for the co-morbidity hypothesis.

Although some studies supported or partially supported the hypothesis, the methodologically superior studies did not.

We conclude that women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with either disorder alone or co-morbidly. Furthermore, the ratio of women to men who experience anxiety alone or anxiety in combination with depression tends to be higher than the ratio of women to men who experience depression alone. Attempts to explain the gender difference in rates of depression would benefit from an understanding that women also are more likely to experience anxiety.