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Gender differences in major depressive disorder: Results from the Netherlands study of depression and anxiety
Abstract
Background Although an overall gender difference in prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) has been well established, several questions concerning gender differences in the clinical manifestation of depression remain. This study aims to identify gender differences in psychopathology, treatment, and public health consequences in patients with MDD.Methods Baseline data from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA) were used, including 1115 participants (364 men, 751 women, mean age 41 years) with a DSM-IV diagnosis of current MDD. Characteristics studied included symptom profiles, comorbidity, treatment, and public health consequences.Results Women reported a younger age of onset of single (27.8 years vs. 31.6 years; p=0.001) and recurrent MDD (24.8 years vs. 27.6 years; p=0.014), a higher comorbidity of panic disorder with agoraphobia (24.9% vs. 17.3%; p=0.006) and life-time overall anxiety disorder (77.6% vs. 71.4%; p=0.029) than men. More men than women suffered from comorbid alcohol dependence or abuse (48.1% vs. 24.5%; p<0.001). An increased prevalence of atypical depression in women (24.6% vs. 17.3%; p=0.009) was found. Women were treated more frequently by an alternative caretaker (20.6% vs. 14.8%; p=0.025), men more often in mental health care organizations (61.0% vs. 53.7%; p=0.025). No gender differences in frequency of medication use or counseling were found.Limitations Cross sectional design.Conclusions Main gender differences in the clinical presentation of MDD concerned a younger age of onset, higher anxiety and lower alcohol use comorbidity and higher prevalence of atypical depression in women. These differences were accompanied by differences in health care use.
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“the DSM diagnostic criteria for adolescent MDD have low diagnostic validity and specificity, resulting in unclear diagnostic boundaries especially with regard to generalized and social anxiety”
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Metadata
- Authors
- Schuch, J. J. J., Roest, A. M., Nolen, W. A., Penninx, B. W. J. H., & de Jonge, P.
- Affiliations
- University Medical Center Groningen (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Schuch, Jérôme J.J.
- Venue
- Journal of Affective Disorders
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2014-03
- Volume
- 156
- Pages
- 156-163
- ISSN
- 0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2078820641
- Cited by
- 280
- References
- 55
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 25 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 8
- FWCI
- 12.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Amsterdam UMC (VU Amsterdam) - Institutional Repository (publishedVersion)
- University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (publishedVersion)
- VU Research Portal (publishedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Leiden Repository (Leiden University) (submittedVersion)
- Pure Amsterdam UMC (submittedVersion)
- University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology (medical) › Treatment of Major Depression
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Keywords
- major depressive disorder, gender differences, age of onset, recurrent depression, panic disorder with agoraphobia, anxiety comorbidity, alcoholism, atypical depression, mental health service utilization, NESDA
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorder, Major, Major Depressive Disorder, Employment, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Netherlands, Sex Factors, Comorbidity, Prevalence, Age of Onset, Young Adult
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