[Differences in the course of depressive disorders among women and men measured by MMPI-2].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study is to assess the differences between clinical scales of MMPI-2 among women and men suffering from depressive disorders.


METHODS
36 patients were examined (aged 23-62 years, average age = 51.27, SD = 8.84): 19 women (52.77%, aged 23-59, average age = 51.16, SD = 4.74) and 17 men (47.23%, aged: 23-61, average age = 51.41, SD = 12.07). All patients were hospitalised in the Clinic of Adult Psychiatry Medical University of Łódź. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2, adapted by T. Kucharski) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS, consisting of 21-items) were used. MMPI-2 is used in psychological diagnostic and HDRS is used to assess the intensity of depressive disorders.


RESULTS
Relevant statistical differences between women and men in the several clinical scales of MMPI-2 were observed. There were no relevant statistical differences between the examined groups in the HDRS.


CONCLUSIONS
(1). The characteristic symptoms of depressive disorders for women are: the excessive concentration on physical health, numerous complaints about physical disabilities, lack of energy, insomnia, diminishing of attention concentration and low self-esteem, diffidence and pessimism (2). Examined men achieved statistically lower results than women in the following scales: hypochondria, hysteria and D1, D3, D4 subscales of the depression scale. (3). MMPI-2 is one of the psychological methods which allow for a specific diagnosis of depressive disorders symptoms among women and men.
Talarowska
Monika
M
Klinika Psychiatrii Dorosłych UM w Łodzi.
Florkowski
Antoni
A
Zboralski
Krzysztof
K
Gałecki
Piotr
P
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006998:Hypochondriasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D007046:Hysteria / Q000175:diagnosis; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010259:Paranoid Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D011044:Poland; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis; D055815:Young Adult