Male involvement in randomised trials testing psychotherapy or behavioural interventions for depression: a scoping...

Area of Science:

• Mental Health Research
• Clinical Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) affects 109 million men globally, with men accounting for 75% of suicides in Western countries.
• Men are less likely to seek mental health support, suggesting current treatments may not be engaging or accessible.
• Underrepresentation of men in clinical trials could impede the development of tailored depression interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify male participation in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for depression.
• To assess the involvement of men in psychotherapy and lifestyle behavior change interventions.
• To identify potential barriers to male engagement in depression research.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of 110 eligible articles on depression interventions.
• Analysis of participant demographics, focusing on sex representation.
• Examination of intervention characteristics, including delivery mode and sample composition.

Main Results:

• Men constituted only 26% of participants in reviewed depression RCTs, compared to 73% women.
• Male underrepresentation was consistent across various intervention types and delivery methods.
• No studies exclusively sampled men, while 19 studies focused solely on women.

Conclusions:

• Men are substantially underrepresented in research trials for depression.
• Current research practices may not adequately address the needs and accessibility concerns for men in mental health studies.
• Further research is needed to promote male inclusion in clinical trials for depression and improve treatment outcomes.