Are andropause symptoms related to depression?

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Men's Health
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Andropause, a condition affecting aging men, is associated with physical, spiritual, and emotional health changes.
• The relationship between andropause and psychological symptoms, particularly depression, requires further clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between symptoms of andropause, measured by the Aging Males Symptoms Scale (AMS), and depression.
• To determine if depression is a significant factor in the experience of andropause symptoms.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 521 older men.
• Utilized the Aging Males Symptoms Scale (AMS) and Patient Health Questionnaires (PHQ-2 and PHQ-9) for depression screening.
• Employed multiple linear regression analysis to assess the relationship between andropause symptoms and depression.

Main Results:

• Over half (51.5%) of the participants exhibited clinical symptoms of androgen deficiency, with 3.7% showing severe symptoms.
• A significant positive correlation was found between the AMS score and depression.
• Depression emerged as the strongest positive predictive factor associated with AMS scores, even after controlling for other variables.

Conclusions:

• A direct association exists between andropause symptoms and depression; increased AMS scores correlate with greater depression severity.
• Screening for depression is recommended during the evaluation of men experiencing andropause symptoms.