Is sex necessarily a risk factor to depression?

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Sociology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Depressive disorders show higher prevalence in women in general population studies.
• Investigating the determinants of this observed sex difference is crucial for understanding and addressing mental health disparities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and quantify potential determinants of the increased prevalence of depressive disorders in women.
• To examine the role of social factors versus biological factors in explaining sex differences in depression.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal study of men and women initially similar in social determinants of depression.
• Utilized the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) for DSM-III and RDC diagnoses of lifetime depressive disorders.
• Corroborative reports were used to establish data accuracy over a five-year follow-up period.

Main Results:

• No significant sex differences in the lifetime prevalence of depressive episodes were demonstrated.
• Limited social role divergence occurred over the five-year study period.

Conclusions:

• The findings suggest biological factors may be less relevant in determining sex differences in depression than previously thought.
• Social factors are interpreted as being of key relevance in determining any female preponderance in depression.
• The study supports the view that social determinants play a critical role in the epidemiology of depression.