Sex differences in depression symptoms among adult family medicine patients.

Beck Depression Inventory factor structures for men and women were compared to determine whether there are sex differences in self-reported depression symptoms. Subjects were 131 white men and 223 nonpregnant, white women presenting for health care at the University of Missouri-Columbia Family Medical Care Center. Dysphoric mood and performance difficulty were the two major components of depression in both men and women. A third component, unique to men, was labeled interpersonal behavior change; it was characterized by social withdrawal, indecisiveness, and irritability. Health care providers should be alert to interpersonal behavior changes signaling depression in their male patients even in the absence of dysphoric mood.