Does the Aging Males' Symptoms scale assess major depressive disorder?: A pilot study

Area of Science:

• Andrology
• Psychiatry
• Gerontology

Background:

• Male climacteric, also known as partial androgen deficiency of the aging male (PADAM), is associated with aging in men.
• Depression is a common comorbidity, but its prevalence and symptom overlap with PADAM require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) in Japanese male climacteric outpatients.
• To compare Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) scale scores between patients with and without MDD.
• To enhance the specificity of symptom scales for PADAM by identifying distinct symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Eighty-three male outpatients aged 40-70 attending male-climacteric services were assessed.
• Data collection involved a self-administered questionnaire for MDD diagnosis, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the AMS scale.

Main Results:

• Nearly half of the male climacteric outpatients were diagnosed with MDD.
• Patients with MDD exhibited significantly higher total AMS scores and scores across psychological, somatic, and sexual subscales.
• Strong correlations were observed between the AMS scale and the Beck Depression Inventory, indicating symptom overlap.

Conclusions:

• MDD is highly prevalent in male climacteric outpatients, suggesting a need for careful diagnostic evaluation.
• Many AMS scale items are elevated in patients with MDD, potentially reducing diagnostic specificity for PADAM.
• Future research should focus on identifying AMS items specific to PADAM, independent of MDD, possibly by examining testosterone correlations.