title: Stresses and Disability in Depression across Gender.
abstract: Depression, though generally episodic, results in lasting disability, distress, and burden. Rising prevalence of depression and suicide in the context of epidemiological transition demands more attention to social dimensions like gender related stresses, dysfunction, and their role in outcome of depression. Cross-sectional and follow-up assessment of men and women with depression at a psychiatric tertiary centre was undertaken to compare their illness characteristics including suicidal ideation, stresses, and functioning on GAF, SOFAS, and GARF scales (N = 107). We reassessed the patients on HDRS-17 after 6 weeks of treatment. Paired t-test and chi-square test of significance were used to compare the two groups, both before and after treatment. Interpersonal and marital stresses were reported more commonly by women (P < 0.001) and financial stresses by men (P < 0.001) though relational functioning was equally impaired in both. Women had suffered stresses for significantly longer duration (P = 0.0038). Men had more impairment in social and occupational functioning compared to females (P = 0.0062). History of suicide attempts was significantly associated with more severe depression and lower levels of functioning in case of females with untreated depression. Significant cross-gender differences in stresses, their duration, and types of dysfunction mandate focusing on these aspects over and above the criterion-based diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Smt. Kashibai Navale Medical College and General Hospital, Narhe, Pune, Maharashtra 411041, India.
authors.forename: Sharmishtha S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Deshpande
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Smt. Kashibai Navale Medical College and General Hospital, Narhe, Pune, Maharashtra 411041, India.
authors.forename: Bhalchandra
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kalmegh
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Smt. Kashibai Navale Medical College and General Hospital, Narhe, Pune, Maharashtra 411041, India.
authors.forename: Poonam N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Smt. Kashibai Navale Medical College and General Hospital, Narhe, Pune, Maharashtra 411041, India.
authors.forename: Madhav R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ghate
authors.affiliation: Maharashtra Institute of Mental Health, Pune 411001, India.
authors.forename: Sanjeev
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarmukaddam
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Unit, KEM Hospital, Pune 411011, India.
authors.forename: Vasudeo P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Paralikar