Differences in symptoms of depression between females and males with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Depressive symptoms are experienced by up to 50% of individuals diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Furthermore, depressive symptoms are sometimes experienced differently for females and males in the general population, but it is unclear if this is true for people with Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS). The current study aimed to investigate whether there are differences between females and males with RRMS in overall depression scores as well as the types of depressive symptoms reported (somatic or cognitive).

Demographic and Beck Depression Inventory, 2^nd edition (BDI-II) raw scores for females and males with RRMS were downloaded with permission from the Multiple Sclerosis Outcome Assessments Consortium (MSOAC) Placebo database. A total of 494 individuals (n=354 females) with RRMS were included in analyses. Non-parametric Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to compare BDI-II Total Scores, Somatic Scores, and Cognitive Scores between females and males with RRMS.

Females reported significantly greater overall symptoms of depression compared to males. Furthermore, females endorsed significantly greater somatic symptoms than males. There were no significant differences in females' reports of cognitive symptoms compared to males.

Depressive symptoms in RRMS are experienced differently for females and males. Females with RRMS report higher levels of overall depression and somatic depressive symptoms compared to males with RRMS; this knowledge may help inform best strategies for treatment planning. Future studies should investigate depressive symptoms in females and males with progressive forms of MS, and track symptom changes longitudinally.