OBJECTIVE: Gender differences in the symptoms of major depression have received limited research attention. The aim of this study was to explore these differences in male-female twin pairs. METHOD: Telephone interviews were conducted to determine the lifetime history of major depression in 1,404 complete pairs of opposite-sex dizygotic twins identified through a population-based registry. From these, the authors selected 201 pairs in which both twins fulfilled the DSM-III-R criteria for lifetime major depression. Dichotomous symptom variables were analyzed by using McNemar's chi-square. For continuous variables, conditional logistic regression was used. RESULTS: Female twins reported experiencing significantly more fatigue, hypersomnia, and psychomotor retardation during the most severe major depressive episode, whereas male twins reported more insomnia and agitation. CONCLUSIONS: In this group of matched twins, gender differences in the symptoms of major depression were seen in the areas of sleep, psychomotor changes, and fatigue. Gender significantly modifies some clinical features of major depression.
OBJECTIVE: Gender differences in the symptoms of major depression have received limited research attention. The aim of this study was to explore these differences in male-female twin pairs. METHOD: Telephone interviews were conducted to determine the lifetime history of major depression in 1,404 complete pairs of opposite-sex dizygotic twins identified through a population-based registry. From these, the authors selected 201 pairs in which both twins fulfilled the DSM-III-R criteria for lifetime major depression. Dichotomous symptom variables were analyzed by using McNemar's chi-square. For continuous variables, conditional logistic regression was used. RESULTS: Female twins reported experiencing significantly more fatigue, hypersomnia, and psychomotor retardation during the most severe major depressive episode, whereas male twins reported more insomnia and agitation. CONCLUSIONS: In this group of matched twins, gender differences in the symptoms of major depression were seen in the areas of sleep, psychomotor changes, and fatigue. Gender significantly modifies some clinical features of major depression.
Authors: H M van Loo; C D Van Borkulo; R E Peterson; E I Fried; S H Aggen; D Borsboom; K S Kendler Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2017-10-29 Impact factor: 4.839
Authors: Karen K Miller; Roy H Perlis; George I Papakostas; David Mischoulon; Dan V Losifescu; Danielle J Brick; Maurizio Fava Journal: CNS Spectr Date: 2009-12 Impact factor: 3.790
Authors: Ariela J E Kaiser; Carter J Funkhouser; Vijay A Mittal; Sebastian Walther; Stewart A Shankman Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2020-07-20 Impact factor: 3.222
Authors: Catarina Canivet; Carin Staland-Nyman; Sara I Lindeberg; Robert Karasek; Mahnaz Moghaddassi; Per-Olof Östergren Journal: Int J Behav Med Date: 2014-04