Symptoms of Male Depression

What do Vincent Van Gogh, Winston Churchill, and Abraham Lincoln all have in common? All of these well known men would have been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives by the clinical standards used today. Depression is a disease that strikes both men and women, although the symptoms of male depression are often different than those experienced by a woman, making the diagnosis a challenge. Recognizing the symptoms of male depression is important since a depressed man is four times more likely to successfully commit suicide than a woman. The incidence of alcoholism and drug addiction is also higher among depressed men. What are the symptoms of male depression and how can they be recognized?

Symptoms of Male Depression

Typical symptoms of depression in women include feelings of sadness, sleep difficulties, loss of interest in activities, appetite changes, feelings of hopelessness, and loss of energy. Men are less likely to experience these characteristic signs and symptoms and, if they do, it’s often less apparent since they find it necessary to hide their emotions to maintain a “manly” façade. Instead a depressed man may channel his feelings of hopelessness into excessive alcohol or drug use or develop other maladaptive ways of coping such as spending money, gambling, or engaging in reckless, high risk behavior.

Why the Difference?

Why are the symptoms of male depression so different than the ones experienced by women? Experts believe it’s related to societal expectations. Men are taught to be action oriented and not to talk about or be influenced by their emotions. This makes it difficult for them to effectively verbalize their depressive symptoms and ask for help.

Is the Cause of Male Depression Different?

Interestingly, the cause of male depression in some cases may be related to declining testosterone levels. In a study carried out on older men showed a correlation between testosterone levels and depression. Depressed men were found to have significantly lower levels of testosterone than men who weren’t diagnosed with depression. Although it may be tempting to believe the low testosterone level caused the depression, another study carried out in 1999 showed that depression itself can decrease production of sex hormones such as testosterone. Although there’s still a question as to which comes first the depression or the hormonal imbalance, there does appear to be a correlation.

What’s the Long Term Prognosis?

The difficulty of making the diagnosis of male depression can cause significant delays in giving these men help. Although depression often makes its appearance during middle age in men, it may not be clinically recognized for many years. The good news is once the diagnosis of male depression is made; there are effective treatments available including medications and psychological counseling that can make an enormous difference. With proper therapy, male depression can have an excellent prognosis.