Atypical depression, somatic depression and anxious depression in women: are they gender-preferred phenotypes?
BACKGROUND
Both depression and anxiety disorders affect women at rates significantly greater than men. Women also have a documented higher frequency of comorbid depression and anxiety disorders, and a three-fold higher prevalence of atypical depression.


OBJECTIVE
These gender differences are mainly due to specific depressive phenotypes including anxious depression and atypical depression. The prevalence of comorbid anxiety and depression strongly suggests overlap of pathophysiological mechanisms-which in women are also affected by fluctuations in gonadal hormones. Similar efficacy of serotonergic antidepressants as treatment for anxiety disorders as well as depressions further underscores the blurred boundaries between these two descriptive entities.


CONCLUSIONS
Symptoms of depression and anxiety may be a departure point for differential diagnosis in which dimensionally-based phenotypes substantiated by pathobiology would replace current descriptive entities. It is suggested that at least some biologically-based dysphorias may be specific to women, ensuing from the combination of specific vulnerabilities, and complex interactions between brain mechanisms and gonadal hormones.
Halbreich
Uriel
U
Biobehavior Research, State University of New York at Buffalo, Hayes Annex C Ste # 1, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA. urielh@buffalo.edu
Kahn
Linda S
LS
D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*