May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Did you know there are significant differences in symptoms of depression between males and females?

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) will be the leading cause of disease burden by 2030.¹

• Presenting with mood decline, loss of interest, irritability, and feelings of guilt and worthlessness, MDD is also associated with decreased appetite, weight changes, and sleep disturbances.² Altogether, these chronic symptoms significantly lower the quality of life and may, in the most extreme of cases, lead to suicide ¹,²,³

• Females are approximately twice as likely as males to be diagnosed with depression an effect which emerges during puberty and remains stable in adulthood ⁴

• Females with depression are more likely to experience higher symptom severity and atypical depression (hypersomnia, weight gain, and excessive fatigue) ⁴

• By contrast, male depression usually manifests as anger attacks, aggression, substance use, and risk-taking behaviors. ⁴

• Females have higher rates of comorbid anxiety whereas males have higher rates of comorbid substance abuse ⁴

• Females are more likely to develop depression; however, depressed males are more than three times more likely to die from depression-related suicide than females ⁴

• Several studies found that females respond more favourably to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) This effect may be more salient in younger, premenopausal females, perhaps pointing to synergistic effects between serotonin and ovarian hormones such as estradiol ⁴

Take a moment to make yourself aware of these differences. #SpeakOut #SpeakUp #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #TakeTheMoment

Read more:

• https://lnkd.in/dAJBrNP3

• doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.03.015

• doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.690130

• doi: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2019.01.006