title: Gender differences on functioning in depressive patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression is one of the most common disorders in primary care and the fourth most disabling medical condition worldwide. Although gender differences in the prevalence of depression are well established, the little available data on gender-related differences in disabilities among depression patients gives controversial results. This study aims to analyse whether there are gender differences in the disabilities experienced by patients with depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional, multicentre, nationwide epidemiological study was conducted, with 1226 patients. A Case Report Form was used to collect sociodemographic data and the 12-item version of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHO-DAS-II) was used to assess functioning. Depression severity was assessed using the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Non-statistically significant differences in functioning were found between males and females. An item-by-item analysis of the WHO-DAS-II shows significant differences between both sexes in specific areas. Women obtained higher scores than men for standing for long periods and walking a long distance. Males scored higher than women in dealing with people you did not know well and maintaining a friendship.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the descriptive and cross-sectional nature of the study, the results are limited, highlighting the need for further research. Also, other variables that might influence disability, such as medical illnesses, were not considered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effect of depression on disability is similar for both sexes but not uniform in terms of the impact on different aspects of the quality of life. These findings could be an important factor in the assessment of functioning and management of depression.
authors.affiliation: Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut (University Institute of Health Science Research, IUNICS), University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Red de Actividades Preventivas y Promoción de la Salud en Atención Primaria (Network of Primary Care Preventive Activities & Healthcare Promotion, RediAPP), Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: mgili@uib.es.
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gili
authors.affiliation: Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut (University Institute of Health Science Research, IUNICS), University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Red de Actividades Preventivas y Promoción de la Salud en Atención Primaria (Network of Primary Care Preventive Activities & Healthcare Promotion, RediAPP), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Adoración
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: Capilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.affiliation: Red de Actividades Preventivas y Promoción de la Salud en Atención Primaria (Network of Primary Care Preventive Activities & Healthcare Promotion, RediAPP), Barcelona, Spain; Manacor Hospital, IB-Salut, Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.affiliation: Red de Actividades Preventivas y Promoción de la Salud en Atención Primaria (Network of Primary Care Preventive Activities & Healthcare Promotion, RediAPP), Barcelona, Spain; Family Medicine Department, Arrabal Health Centre, Zaragoza University, Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud (Aragón Institute of Health Sciences, IACS), Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Magallón
authors.affiliation: Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut (University Institute of Health Science Research, IUNICS), University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Red de Actividades Preventivas y Promoción de la Salud en Atención Primaria (Network of Primary Care Preventive Activities & Healthcare Promotion, RediAPP), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: García-Toro
authors.affiliation: Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut (University Institute of Health Science Research, IUNICS), University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Red de Actividades Preventivas y Promoción de la Salud en Atención Primaria (Network of Primary Care Preventive Activities & Healthcare Promotion, RediAPP), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Miquel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors; D014944:World Health Organization
keywords: Depression; Disability; Gender differences