Gender differences in depression in primary care

Janet B.W. Williams; Robert L. Spitzer; Mark Linzer; Kurt Kroenke; Steven R. Hahn; Frank Verloin deGruy; Amy Lazev

doi:10.1016/0002-9378(95)90298-8

Gender differences in depression in primary care

Janet B.W. Williams, Robert L. Spitzer, Mark Linzer, Kurt Kroenke, Steven R. Hahn, Frank Verloin deGruy, Amy Lazev

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

127 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine gender differences in the frequency and manifestation of depression in primary care. STUDY DESIGN: PRIME-MD^®, a new assessment tool, was tested in 1000 patients as an aid to diagnose depression in primary care patients. Answers to a self-assessment questionnaire completed by patients determined whether physicians administered the mood module in the Clinician Evaluation Guide to diagnose depression. Functional status wass assessed with the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-20). RESULTS: More women than men were diagnosed as having a mood disorder (31% vs 19%; p < 0.01), and an antidepressant was newly prescribed only for women (p < 0.001). There were no gender differences in physician ratings of patients' health, but women rated their health significantly more poorly than did men. Similarly, functional impairment scores were significantly lower in women than in men. CONCLUSIONS: Women are much more likely than men to have depressive disorders, and when these disorders are diagnosed, to receive a prescription for antidepressant medication. Further research is needed to determine why women seem to suffer disproportionately from symptoms of depression and signs of functional impairment.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	654-659
Number of pages	6
Journal	American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
Volume	173
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9378(95)90298-8
State	Published - 1995
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
From the Biometrics Research Deflartmenn of the New York State Psychiatric Institute and the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University,” New York, New England Medical Center,” Boston, Unqormed Services University of the Health Sciences,’ Bethesda, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx,” and University of South Alabama College of Medicine,” Mobile. The development of PRIME-MD and the PRIME-MD 1000 Study was supported in part by an unrestricted educational grant from U.S. Pharmaceutical Group, Pfizer Inc. Contact Dr. Williams or Dr. Spitzer about research use of PRIME-MD. Reprint requests: Janet B. W. Williams, DSW Biometrics Resea.rch Department, Unit 74, New York State Psychiatric Institute, 722 West 168 St., New York, NY 10032. Copyright 0 1995 by Mosby-Year Book, Inc. 0002-9378/95 $3.00 + 0 6/O/64547

Keywords

Depression
PRIME-MD
gender differences
mood disorder
treatment
women

Access

10.1016/0002-9378(95)90298-8

OpenUrl availability

Full text

Cite this

@article{5b054766661741fab7cb9182156c660f,

title = "Gender differences in depression in primary care",

abstract = "OBJECTIVES: To determine gender differences in the frequency and manifestation of depression in primary care. STUDY DESIGN: PRIME-MD{\textregistered}, a new assessment tool, was tested in 1000 patients as an aid to diagnose depression in primary care patients. Answers to a self-assessment questionnaire completed by patients determined whether physicians administered the mood module in the Clinician Evaluation Guide to diagnose depression. Functional status wass assessed with the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-20). RESULTS: More women than men were diagnosed as having a mood disorder (31% vs 19%; p < 0.01), and an antidepressant was newly prescribed only for women (p < 0.001). There were no gender differences in physician ratings of patients' health, but women rated their health significantly more poorly than did men. Similarly, functional impairment scores were significantly lower in women than in men. CONCLUSIONS: Women are much more likely than men to have depressive disorders, and when these disorders are diagnosed, to receive a prescription for antidepressant medication. Further research is needed to determine why women seem to suffer disproportionately from symptoms of depression and signs of functional impairment.",

keywords = "Depression, PRIME-MD, gender differences, mood disorder, treatment, women",

author = "Williams, {Janet B.W.} and Spitzer, {Robert L.} and Mark Linzer and Kurt Kroenke and Hahn, {Steven R.} and deGruy, {Frank Verloin} and Amy Lazev",

note = "Funding Information: From the Biometrics Research Deflartmenn of the New York State Psychiatric Institute and the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University,” New York, New England Medical Center,” Boston, Unqormed Services University of the Health Sciences,{\textquoteright} Bethesda, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx,” and University of South Alabama College of Medicine,” Mobile. The development of PRIME-MD and the PRIME-MD 1000 Study was supported in part by an unrestricted educational grant from U.S. Pharmaceutical Group, Pfizer Inc. Contact Dr. Williams or Dr. Spitzer about research use of PRIME-MD. Reprint requests: Janet B. W. Williams, DSW Biometrics Resea.rch Department, Unit 74, New York State Psychiatric Institute, 722 West 168 St., New York, NY 10032. Copyright 0 1995 by Mosby-Year Book, Inc. 0002-9378/95 $3.00 + 0 6/O/64547",

year = "1995",

doi = "10.1016/0002-9378(95)90298-8",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "173",

pages = "654--659",

journal = "American journal of obstetrics and gynecology",

issn = "0002-9378",

publisher = "Mosby Inc.",

number = "2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Gender differences in depression in primary care

AU - Williams, Janet B.W.

AU - Spitzer, Robert L.

AU - Linzer, Mark

AU - Kroenke, Kurt

AU - Hahn, Steven R.

AU - deGruy, Frank Verloin

AU - Lazev, Amy

N1 - Funding Information: From the Biometrics Research Deflartmenn of the New York State Psychiatric Institute and the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University,” New York, New England Medical Center,” Boston, Unqormed Services University of the Health Sciences,’ Bethesda, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx,” and University of South Alabama College of Medicine,” Mobile. The development of PRIME-MD and the PRIME-MD 1000 Study was supported in part by an unrestricted educational grant from U.S. Pharmaceutical Group, Pfizer Inc. Contact Dr. Williams or Dr. Spitzer about research use of PRIME-MD. Reprint requests: Janet B. W. Williams, DSW Biometrics Resea.rch Department, Unit 74, New York State Psychiatric Institute, 722 West 168 St., New York, NY 10032. Copyright 0 1995 by Mosby-Year Book, Inc. 0002-9378/95 $3.00 + 0 6/O/64547

PY - 1995

Y1 - 1995

N2 - OBJECTIVES: To determine gender differences in the frequency and manifestation of depression in primary care. STUDY DESIGN: PRIME-MD®, a new assessment tool, was tested in 1000 patients as an aid to diagnose depression in primary care patients. Answers to a self-assessment questionnaire completed by patients determined whether physicians administered the mood module in the Clinician Evaluation Guide to diagnose depression. Functional status wass assessed with the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-20). RESULTS: More women than men were diagnosed as having a mood disorder (31% vs 19%; p < 0.01), and an antidepressant was newly prescribed only for women (p < 0.001). There were no gender differences in physician ratings of patients' health, but women rated their health significantly more poorly than did men. Similarly, functional impairment scores were significantly lower in women than in men. CONCLUSIONS: Women are much more likely than men to have depressive disorders, and when these disorders are diagnosed, to receive a prescription for antidepressant medication. Further research is needed to determine why women seem to suffer disproportionately from symptoms of depression and signs of functional impairment.

AB - OBJECTIVES: To determine gender differences in the frequency and manifestation of depression in primary care. STUDY DESIGN: PRIME-MD®, a new assessment tool, was tested in 1000 patients as an aid to diagnose depression in primary care patients. Answers to a self-assessment questionnaire completed by patients determined whether physicians administered the mood module in the Clinician Evaluation Guide to diagnose depression. Functional status wass assessed with the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-20). RESULTS: More women than men were diagnosed as having a mood disorder (31% vs 19%; p < 0.01), and an antidepressant was newly prescribed only for women (p < 0.001). There were no gender differences in physician ratings of patients' health, but women rated their health significantly more poorly than did men. Similarly, functional impairment scores were significantly lower in women than in men. CONCLUSIONS: Women are much more likely than men to have depressive disorders, and when these disorders are diagnosed, to receive a prescription for antidepressant medication. Further research is needed to determine why women seem to suffer disproportionately from symptoms of depression and signs of functional impairment.

KW - Depression

KW - PRIME-MD

KW - gender differences

KW - mood disorder

KW - treatment

KW - women

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0029130605&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0029130605&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/0002-9378(95)90298-8

DO - 10.1016/0002-9378(95)90298-8

M3 - Article

C2 - 7645648

AN - SCOPUS:0029130605

SN - 0002-9378

VL - 173

SP - 654

EP - 659

JO - American journal of obstetrics and gynecology

JF - American journal of obstetrics and gynecology

IS - 2

ER -

Gender differences in depression in primary care

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access

OpenUrl availability

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this