Worden mannen over het hoofd gezien? Sekseverschillen in de diagnostiek en behandeling van depressie
Auteurs
Greta Noordenbos
Samenvatting
This article reviews sex differences in the
characteristics, causes, experiences and treatment
of depression. Gender asymmetry in the
development of depression, with a sex ratio
bstay in feminist debates and psychological
research. This gender asymmetry might be a
consequence of gender bias in the diagnostic
criteria of depression, that show a better
fit with the way women express sad feelings.
Moreover, because of internalized ideas about
masculinity, men have not learned to express
sad feelings and to ask for help in case of
emotional problems. They tend to develop an
alcohol problem more often than women and
tend to ask for help for their depression only
at a later stage. Men prefer to explain feelings
of depression as a biological problem, to be
treated with medication. However, research
shows that for men psychotherapy might be
the better option to reduce the risk of relapse.
To reduce the gender bias in the diagnostic
criteria it is suggested that diagnostic characteristics
should be developed specifically
geared to depressed men. Furthermore, a
gender-sensitive treatment in which clients
are able to express their preference for a male
or a female therapist, and in which genderspecific
problems are discussed, should become
available.etween women and men of 2:1, is a main