Gender differences in depression - a matter of measure

TY - ABST

T1 - Gender differences in depression - a matter of measure

AU - Thielen, Karsten

AU - Nygaard, Else

AU - Diderichsen, Finn

N1 - Conference code: 15

PY - 2007

Y1 - 2007

N2 - BackgroundGender differences in the prevalence of major depressionare found in many studies in the western world with a muchhigher prevalence for women compared to men. A Danishsurvey from 2004 found no significant difference for majordepression in the Danish population. The nature of thisdifference is unclear. It further needs to be elucidated, if thisis an artefact, a question of measurement or a real difference.MethodsWe use a population-based survey, representative for theDanish population (at age 40 and 50) from the year 2000,which is linked to the nation-wide ‘Danish Psychiatric CentralResearch Register’ and the ‘Register of Medicinal ProductStatistics’. We get information on self-rated major depression(Major Depression Inventory), in- and out-patient contactwith diagnosis depression (ICD-10) and anti-depressivemedication for the whole sample (N=7138). We calculateestimates for point-prevalence and period-prevalence for bothmen and women with descriptive statistical methods.Results (preliminary)The point-prevalence of major depression, measured by ‘MajorDepression Inventory’ is 2.8% for men and women. We find aperiod-prevalence (1998–2002) for in- and out-patient contactwith diagnosis ‘Major depression’ of 0.3% (CI: 0.2–0.5)for men and 0.8% (CI: 0.5–10.9) for women. For prescribedanti-depressive drugs, we find a period-prevalence of 7.7%(CI: 6.8–8.7) for men and 12.2% (CI: 11.3–13.4).Conclusions (preliminary)Point prevalence of major depression in a Danish populationsample confirms previous Danish results about similar occurrencein men and women of major depression. In contrast,register-based results for in- and out-patient contacts andprescribed antidepressive drugs, as indicators for depressiontreatment, show a much higher prevalence in womencompared to men. 

AB - BackgroundGender differences in the prevalence of major depressionare found in many studies in the western world with a muchhigher prevalence for women compared to men. A Danishsurvey from 2004 found no significant difference for majordepression in the Danish population. The nature of thisdifference is unclear. It further needs to be elucidated, if thisis an artefact, a question of measurement or a real difference.MethodsWe use a population-based survey, representative for theDanish population (at age 40 and 50) from the year 2000,which is linked to the nation-wide ‘Danish Psychiatric CentralResearch Register’ and the ‘Register of Medicinal ProductStatistics’. We get information on self-rated major depression(Major Depression Inventory), in- and out-patient contactwith diagnosis depression (ICD-10) and anti-depressivemedication for the whole sample (N=7138). We calculateestimates for point-prevalence and period-prevalence for bothmen and women with descriptive statistical methods.Results (preliminary)The point-prevalence of major depression, measured by ‘MajorDepression Inventory’ is 2.8% for men and women. We find aperiod-prevalence (1998–2002) for in- and out-patient contactwith diagnosis ‘Major depression’ of 0.3% (CI: 0.2–0.5)for men and 0.8% (CI: 0.5–10.9) for women. For prescribedanti-depressive drugs, we find a period-prevalence of 7.7%(CI: 6.8–8.7) for men and 12.2% (CI: 11.3–13.4).Conclusions (preliminary)Point prevalence of major depression in a Danish populationsample confirms previous Danish results about similar occurrencein men and women of major depression. In contrast,register-based results for in- and out-patient contacts andprescribed antidepressive drugs, as indicators for depressiontreatment, show a much higher prevalence in womencompared to men. 

M3 - Conference abstract in journal

SN - 1101-1262

SP - 151

JO - European Journal of Public Health

JF - European Journal of Public Health

IS - supplement 2

T2 - 15th EUPHA conference, The future of public health in United Europe.

Y2 - 11 October 2007 through 13 October 2007

ER -