Sex differences in depression symptoms in treatment-seeking adults: confirmatory analyses from the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression study
- PMID: 18396182
- PMCID: PMC2759282
- DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2007.06.012
Sex differences in depression symptoms in treatment-seeking adults: confirmatory analyses from the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression study
Abstract
Background: Although epidemiologic research consistently reports greater prevalence of major depressive disorder in women, small sample sizes in many studies do not allow for full elaboration of illness characteristics. This article examines sex differences in terms of illness attributes in a cohort of 2541 outpatients from across the United States who enrolled in the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression study.
Methods: Confirmatory analyses were performed in 2541 outpatients comparing men and women with regard to sociodemographic features, comorbid Axis I and Axis III conditions, and illness characteristics. Results were compared with those of our previous report on the initial population of the first 1500 individuals enrolled in Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression study.
Results: In both samples, nearly two thirds of the sample (62.5%) were women. Women had greater symptom severity, but men had more episodes of major depression, despite no difference in the length of illness. No differences in age of onset emerged. As in the first cohort, women showed greater rates of an anxiety disorder, bulimia, and somatoform disorder, as well as more past suicide attempts, whereas men showed more alcohol and substance abuse. Women reported more appetite, weight, hypersomnia, interpersonal sensitivity, gastrointestinal and pain complaints, and less suicidal ideation. Irritability was equally common in men and women.
Conclusion: This large analysis confirmed most of the clinical features and comorbidities found to be more prevalent in the first cohort of women. In addition, this analysis corroborated previous research suggesting higher rates of atypical and anxious depression in women but refuted the notion of an "irritable depression" found in men. The report confirmed the 1.7:1 ratio for depression seen across sexes in the National Comorbidity Survey.
Similar articles
-
Prevalence and clinical correlates of irritability in major depressive disorder: a preliminary report from the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression study.J Clin Psychiatry. 2005 Feb;66(2):159-66; quiz 147, 273-4. J Clin Psychiatry. 2005. PMID: 15705000 Clinical Trial.
-
Substance use disorder comorbidity in major depressive disorder: an exploratory analysis of the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression cohort.Compr Psychiatry. 2005 Mar-Apr;46(2):81-9. doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2004.07.025. Compr Psychiatry. 2005. PMID: 15723023 Clinical Trial.
-
Exploring the correlates of suicide attempts among individuals with major depressive disorder: findings from the national epidemiologic survey on alcohol and related conditions.J Clin Psychiatry. 2008 Jul;69(7):1139-49. doi: 10.4088/jcp.v69n0714. J Clin Psychiatry. 2008. PMID: 18517287
-
The influence of menopause status and postmenopausal use of hormone therapy on presentation of major depression in women.Menopause. 2010 Jul;17(4):828-39. doi: 10.1097/gme.0b013e3181d770a8. Menopause. 2010. PMID: 20616669 Free PMC article.
-
Prevention of suicide and attempted suicide in Denmark. Epidemiological studies of suicide and intervention studies in selected risk groups.Dan Med Bull. 2007 Nov;54(4):306-69. Dan Med Bull. 2007. PMID: 18208680 Review.
Cited by
-
Parvalbumin interneuron mGlu5 receptors govern sex differences in prefrontal cortex physiology and binge drinking.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2024 May 21. doi: 10.1038/s41386-024-01889-0. Online ahead of print. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2024. PMID: 38773314
-
Sex, Gender, and Women's Heart Health: How Women's Heart Programs Address the Knowledge Gap.CJC Open. 2023 Oct 20;6(2Part B):442-453. doi: 10.1016/j.cjco.2023.10.012. eCollection 2024 Feb. CJC Open. 2023. PMID: 38487062 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Effects of sex and gender on the etiologies and presentation of select internalizing psychopathologies.Transl Psychiatry. 2024 Feb 2;14(1):73. doi: 10.1038/s41398-024-02730-4. Transl Psychiatry. 2024. PMID: 38307846 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Depression in Women: Potential Biological and Sociocultural Factors Driving the Sex Effect.Neuropsychobiology. 2024;83(1):2-16. doi: 10.1159/000531588. Epub 2024 Jan 25. Neuropsychobiology. 2024. PMID: 38272005 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Parvalbumin interneuron mGlu5 receptors govern sex differences in prefrontal cortex physiology and binge drinking.bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2024 Mar 16:2023.11.20.567903. doi: 10.1101/2023.11.20.567903. bioRxiv. 2024. Update in: Neuropsychopharmacology. 2024 May 21. doi: 10.1038/s41386-024-01889-0. PMID: 38045379 Free PMC article. Updated. Preprint.
References
-
- Bebbington PE. The origins of sex differences in depressive disorder: bridging the gap. Int Rev Psychiatry. 1996;7:295–332.
-
- Nolen-Hoeksema S. Sex differences in depression. Stanford: Stanford University Press; 1990.
-
- Frank E, Carpenter LL, Kupfer DJ. Sex differences in recurrent depression: are there any that are significant? Am J Psychiatry. 1988;145:41–45. - PubMed
-
- Marcus SM, Young EA, Kerber KB, Kornstein S, Farabaugh AH, Mitchell J, et al. Gender differences in depression: findings from the Star*D study. J Affec Dis. 87:141–150. - PubMed
-
- Kessler RC, McGonagle KA, Zhao S, Nelson S, Hughes M, Eschleman S, et al. Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of DSM-III-R psychiatric disorders in the United States: results from the National Comorbidity Survey. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1994;54:313–21. - PubMed
Publication types
MeSH terms
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical
Research Materials
Miscellaneous