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Gender and depression: a study of severity and symptomatology of depressive disorders (ICD‐10) in general practice
Author(s) -
Hildebrandt M. G.,
Stage K. B.,
KraghSoerensen P.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0447.2003.02108.x
Subject(s) - depression (economics) , danish , depressive symptoms , psychiatry , severity of illness , psychology , medicine , clinical psychology , anxiety , linguistics , philosophy , economics , macroeconomics
Objective: Gender differences in severity and symptomatology of depression in a large and representative sample of depressive patients from general practice were examined. Method: During a 2‐year study period, 31 Danish general practitioners consecutively assessed patients, aged >18, for depression. A total of 1033 patients (692 female, 341 male) fulfilled ICD‐10 criteria for depressive disorders. Gender differences were examined with regard to severity and symptomatology of depression. Results: The severity of depression was similar for men and women with the following distribution: 22% mild, 56% moderate and 23% severe depressive episodes. The mean number of symptoms presented was 6.6 of 10 for both genders. There were no gender differences in prevalence of single depressive symptoms. Conclusion: No gender differences in the severity or symptomatology of depression were found in a highly representative sample of patients with depressive disorders.