Do the diagnostic criteria determine the sex ratio in depression?
The 1-year prevalence rates and sex ratio of dysphoric mood, brief (BDE, less than 2 weeks) and extensive (EDE, greater than or equal to 2 weeks) depressive episodes and major depression (RDC, DSM-III) from an epidemiologic study are presented. Factors influencing the sex ratio are analyzed: subjective suffering from EDE, social and work impairment were found to an equal degree in both genders. Factors favoring female preponderance: women report more symptoms, men most probably forget symptoms, frequency and length of less recent depressions more readily, women see a physician or proceed to self-medication much more often. Consequently, the identical minimum symptom number for both genders is questioned and occupational impairment suggested as an alternative case-defining criterion.
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D013557:Switzerland