Gender differences in response to antidepressant treatment prescribed in primary care. Does menopause make a difference?
BACKGROUND
Epidemiological surveys have consistently reported that the prevalence of major depression in women is almost twice as high as it is in men. While it seems that no major gender differences have been observed in the severity and symptomatology of depression, results regarding differences in antidepressant treatment response are controversial, especially when considering menopause in treatment response.


METHODS
A total of 242 women (95 in their menopause), and 59 men beginning antidepressant treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI; Citalopram, Fluoxetine, Paroxetine or Sertraline) from 16 primary care (PC) centres were followed up during 6 months. Menopause effect and gender differences in antidepressant treatment response were evaluated. Additionally, severity and symptomatology of depression were compared among genders.


RESULTS
Overall results suggest that menopause is related to a worse treatment response and to a poorer self-evaluation of global health status. No gender differences were observed in treatment response, depression severity, and symptomatology.


CONCLUSIONS
Since our sample included PC participants, a wide spectrum of depression severity was considered. Additionally, menopause was assessed by means of participants' self-report.


CONCLUSIONS
Menopause seems to negatively affect SSRI treatment response of depressed women treated in PC.
Pinto-Meza
Alejandra
A
Sant Joan de Déu-SSM, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Spain. apinto@sjd-ssm.com
Usall
Judith
J
Serrano-Blanco
Antoni
A
Suárez
David
D
Haro
Josep Maria
JM
D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors