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This article is part of the supplement: International Society on Brain and Behaviour: 3rd International Congress on Brain and Behaviour

Open AccessOral presentation

Male depression

Athanasios Douzenis

2nd Department of Psychiatry, “Attikon” Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Greece

corresponding author email

from International Society on Brain and Behaviour: 3rd International Congress on Brain and Behaviour
Thessaloniki, Greece. 28 November – 2 December 2007

Annals of General Psychiatry 2008, 7(Suppl 1):S16doi:10.1186/1744-859X-7-S1-S16

Published: 17 April 2008

First paragraph (this article has no abstract)

Male depression is a disease with devastating consequences. 80% of all suicides in the US are men. The male suicide rate at midlife is three times higher than women's, for men over 65, it is seven times higher. The symptoms of male depression can be different from the classic symptoms we associate with depression. Most importantly though, men deny they have problems because they are supposed to “be strong”. The symptom cluster of male depression is not well-known so family members, physicians, and mental health professionals fail to recognize it. It can take up to ten years and three health professionals to properly diagnose this disorder. Apart form the usual symptoms depression is associated in men with: Anger and frustration, violent behaviour, weight loss without trying, taking risks, such as reckless driving and extramarital sex, loss of concentration, isolation, fatigue, alcohol or substance abuse, misuse of prescription medication, bouts of crying less often than women. In addition, men often aren't aware that physical symptoms, such as headaches, digestive disorders and chronic pain, can be symptoms of male depression. This presentation will review the literature on aetiology, presentation and treatment for men with depression.


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