Are there gender differences in major depression and its response to antidepressants?
GROUND: The prevalence of major depression for women is about twice that for men. This gender difference in prevalence rates has led to much research addressing gender differences in the presentation and features of major depression, and, to a lesser extent, research addressing gender differences in treatment response and personality. However, studies differ considerably in the population sampled, and findings vary significantly. In the current retrospective examination of data, we investigated all of these variables in one single sample of outpatients with major depression seen in a tertiary care centre. METHODS: A sample of 139 men and 246 women with major depression receiving antidepressant treatment (SSRIs, TCAs, SNRIs, MAOIs, or RIMAs) in an outpatient setting were contrasted with regard to symptoms and severity of depression, course of illness, treatment response, and personality. RESULTS: Women were found to experience more vegetative and atypical symptoms, anxiety, and anger th
