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[Unipolar depression: a gender-based comparative analysis].
N N Ivanets1, M A Kinkul'kina1, Y G Tikhonova1
1Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia.
Zhurnal Nevrologii I Psikhiatrii Imeni S.S. Korsakova
|September 5, 2021
Summary
This study reveals significant gender differences in depression. Women with depression were older and had more comorbidities, while men experienced more personality disorders and chronic depression.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Depression is a prevalent mental health condition with varying clinical presentations.
- Understanding gender-specific characteristics of depression is crucial for targeted treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare socio-demographic and clinical characteristics between men and women diagnosed with unipolar depression.
- To identify gender-based differences in depression symptomatology and comorbidity.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 388 patients with unipolar depression (74 men, 314 women) was analyzed.
- Data collection involved clinical-psychopathological assessments and validated psychometric depression scales.
Main Results:
- Women with depression were older and more frequently presented with comorbid somatic and organic disorders.
- Men were more likely to have personality disorders and chronic depression.
- Depression severity in women was associated with increased sadness, anxiety, sleep and appetite disturbances, concentration issues, and suicidal ideation.
Conclusions:
- Distinct gender-specific patterns exist in the socio-demographic and clinical profiles of individuals with depression.
- While women reported higher overall depression severity, anhedonia was more pronounced in men.
- These findings underscore the importance of considering gender in the diagnosis and management of depression.
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