(Newswire.net — May 11, 2023) —
Depression – A Differential Study
Depression affects men and women differently, with women being twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression, making it the leading cause of disease among women. Symptoms of depression in females include guilt, difficulty concentrating, sadness, and dissatisfaction with their body image, while men tend to show irritability and impulsive anger.
Additionally, women are more likely to experience stress and sleep problems when depressed, while men often lose interest in their usual activities and feel downcast and tired in the morning.
Suicide rates among men are higher than among women, with men several times more likely to commit suicide, whereas women are more likely to have suicidal thoughts.
Although hormonal changes during puberty can increase a girl’s risk of depression, the depression gender gap may persist throughout life. Other factors, such as perimenopause, postpartum depression, lifestyle changes, and culture, can also affect a woman’s risk of depression. Women who have experienced sexual or physical abuse or have other mental health conditions like anxiety or eating disorders are also at risk for depression.
When life feels overwhelming due to work, family issues, or health problems, it is necessary to reach out to loved ones, support groups, and healthcare professionals for resources and support.
Various Gender-Based Studies on Depression
Depression seems to be more prevalent among women. In fact, women are 1.5-3 times more likely to suffer from major depression than men. While there is no clear difference in how depression develops or how each gender responds to treatment, there are several possible reasons why the percentage of women with depression is higher than men.
One reason for this difference is that women are more likely to seek out treatment for mental health conditions than men. This makes the higher percentage somewhat skewed toward women.
Another possible reason is that women face unique depressive causes that are not typically experienced by men. These include hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy and childbirth, menstruation, menopause, and side effects caused by birth control or hormone replacement therapy.
The signs of depression in women can vary greatly from emotional to physical symptoms. Women are more likely to experience feelings of guilt, worthlessness, hopelessness, and mood swings. They may also cry without any specific cause, lose their appetite, and lose interest in activities that they previously enjoyed. Physical symptoms such as drastic weight loss, physical aches, feeling weak or exhausted for no clear reason, and troubled sleeping are also common among women with depression.
How to Relieve Depression
Depression affects individuals of all genders, ages, and backgrounds. However, research has consistently shown that women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with major depressive disorder. A recent study conducted by the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) project confirms that women exhibit greater symptom severity than men, with more episodes of depression.
The study, which included 2541 outpatients from across the United States, found that women with depression also report higher rates of anxiety disorders, bulimia, and somatoform disorders.
They also experience more past suicide attempts and are more likely to report symptoms such as appetite and weight changes, hypersomnia, gastrointestinal problems, and pain complaints. In contrast, men with depression exhibit higher rates of alcohol and substance abuse.
The study also confirmed that women with depression are more likely to experience atypical and anxious depression than men.
If you or a loved one suffer from depression, talk to your healthcare provider about treatment options like Deep TMS.