Sex differences in depressive symptoms and their networks in a treatment-seeking population - a cross-sectional study.
Depression
Differences
Network analysis
Sex
Symptoms
Journal
Journal of affective disorders
ISSN: 1573-2517
Titre abrégé: J Affect Disord
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 7906073
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
01 01 2021
01 01 2021
Historique:
received:
09
02
2020
revised:
20
07
2020
accepted:
25
08
2020
pubmed:
2
10
2020
medline:
20
4
2021
entrez:
1
10
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The higher prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) in females relative to males is well-established. Some authors have posited this difference arises to divergent symptom profiles in females vs. males. However, empirical tests of this hypothesis have yielded equivocal results. Here, we investigate sex differences in MDD of individual symptoms and symptom networks in a treatment-seeking sample. We assessed depressive symptoms using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17) in 590 treatment-seeking adults with MDD (300 females). We examined group differences in symptom endorsement. We investigated symptom networks and estimated Gaussian Graphical Models. Finally, we compared the female and male networks using the Network Comparison Test. Females scored significantly higher in psychological anxiety (p <0.001; rB = -0.155), somatic anxiety (p = .001; rB = -0.150) and feelings of guilt (p = .002; rB = -0.139). Male and female patients did not differ in depression sum scores. There were no sex differences in network structure or global strength. Our study was sufficiently powered to detect only medium sized symptom differences. The generalizability of our study is limited to clinical samples and further studies are needed to investigate if findings also translate to outpatient samples. Females reported elevated anxiety symptoms and guilt. Clinicians should assess these symptom differences and tailor treatment to individual symptom profiles. No differences between sexes emerged in MDD network structures, indicating that features may be more similar than previously assumed. Sex differences in psychopathological features of MDD are important for future research and personalized treatment.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
The higher prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) in females relative to males is well-established. Some authors have posited this difference arises to divergent symptom profiles in females vs. males. However, empirical tests of this hypothesis have yielded equivocal results. Here, we investigate sex differences in MDD of individual symptoms and symptom networks in a treatment-seeking sample.
METHODS
We assessed depressive symptoms using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17) in 590 treatment-seeking adults with MDD (300 females). We examined group differences in symptom endorsement. We investigated symptom networks and estimated Gaussian Graphical Models. Finally, we compared the female and male networks using the Network Comparison Test.
RESULTS
Females scored significantly higher in psychological anxiety (p <0.001; rB = -0.155), somatic anxiety (p = .001; rB = -0.150) and feelings of guilt (p = .002; rB = -0.139). Male and female patients did not differ in depression sum scores. There were no sex differences in network structure or global strength.
LIMITATIONS
Our study was sufficiently powered to detect only medium sized symptom differences. The generalizability of our study is limited to clinical samples and further studies are needed to investigate if findings also translate to outpatient samples.
CONCLUSION
Females reported elevated anxiety symptoms and guilt. Clinicians should assess these symptom differences and tailor treatment to individual symptom profiles. No differences between sexes emerged in MDD network structures, indicating that features may be more similar than previously assumed. Sex differences in psychopathological features of MDD are important for future research and personalized treatment.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33002727
pii: S0165-0327(20)32680-X
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.08.074
pmc: PMC8086368
mid: NIHMS1632908
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
357-364Subventions
Organisme : NIMH NIH HHS
ID : K23 MH113805
Pays : United States
Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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