Men with depression have more difficulty functioning

Men experiencing common mental disorders are more likely than women to have difficulties functioning socially and in their other roles, according to an Otago University study.

The study by Dr Kate Scott and Associate Professor Sunny Collings counters other studies which suggest women with depression have more disabilities than men.

"Our research confirms that women are more likely than men to experience mood and anxiety disorders, but what is new is our finding that among men and women with those disorders, it is actually men who experience greater difficulties in role, social and cognitive functioning," said Dr Scott.

"This runs counter to most prior findings and needs to be noted by clinicians and policymakers."

In the study, which has been published in the international Journal of Affective Disorders and is based on data from Te Rau Hinengaro: The New Zealand Mental Health Survey (2003/2004), 7435 people 16 years and older were interviewed using a diagnostic assessment of mental disorders.

Dr Scott said a key result shows men with a current mood disorder are 10 times more likely to report role disability than men without a mood disorder, while women with a mood disorder are four times more likely to have role disability than women without a mood disorder. A similar pattern is seen with social and cognitive functioning, and with anxiety disorders.

"What's happening here is that both men and women who suffer from depression or anxiety have problems functioning in their day-to-day roles, in social situations and with communicating, but men have more difficulty in these areas than women."

However Dr Scott said the study does not point to exact reasons for the gender differences, and these differences did not happen with substance use disorders.

"One explanation for the difference may be that women are more willing to seek treatment than men. They also have greater intimate and emotional ties to family or friends, which may help offset the impact that depression and anxiety have on social functioning."

As most males are seen as the primary 'breadwinner' one might think that this is the reason for a higher rate of role disability, but Dr Scott found that among men and women who work, men still have greater problems in role function if they are experiencing depression or anxiety. In fact the gender difference is even greater for this group, she said.

One of the key clinical implications of this study for GPs and other health professionals is that better assessment of a male patient's mental health may be achieved by questioning role and social functioning, rather than focusing on depression and anxiety symptoms.

Because men go to the doctor less frequently than women, more attention needs to be paid to raising the profile of common mental disorders and disabilities in the workplace, especially those that employ large numbers of males, Dr Scott said.

"The evidence from this study is that a more systematic and assertive focus on men in this area is overdue for humanitarian, social and economic reasons."

- NZ Herald staff, NZPA