Gender-biased diagnosis and treatment of depression
Considering our blind eye on men’s depression
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15395461 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Andreas Walther (0000-0001-6999-3862, Medical University of Graz, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 190-190 |
| Publication date | 2025-07-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal for Equity in Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1475-9276 • E-ISSN: 1475-9276 |
| Publisher | BioMed Central (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1186/s12939-025-02569-1 |
| PMID | 40597350 |
| OpenAlex | W4411902262 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 38 |
The commentary explores the critical issue of gender bias in the diagnosis and treatment of depression, responding to the study by Bacigalupe et al. [3] that highlights disparities in mental health care for older adults. While acknowledging the study's strengths, it argues for deeper exploration into systemic biases and gendered symptomatology. Women's frequent healthcare interactions increase their likelihood of diagnosis and treatment, while men's reluctance to seek help often results in delayed or missed diagnoses, further complicated by male-typical externalizing symptoms like aggression, risk-taking, and substance abuse. Traditional diagnostic tools and criteria, rooted in prototypical internalizing symptoms, fail to adequately capture these male-typical presentations.The commentary also underscores the role of traditional masculinity ideologies (TMI) in shaping men's mental health behaviors. These socially constructed norms promote emotional suppression and self-reliance, exacerbating gender role conflict, dysfunction and discrepancy stress, thereby reducing help-seeking behaviors. High conformity to TMI correlates with poor therapeutic outcomes, higher dropout rates, and diminished treatment efficacy. The commentary critiques the dual bias evident in overmedicalizing women's mental health while neglecting masculine expressions of distress, advocating for gender-sensitive diagnostic reforms.In conclusion, the commentary calls for equitable mental health care frameworks that recognize diverse depressive manifestations across genders. Addressing these biases through gender-sensitive practices and diagnostic adjustments can bridge disparities, reduce over- or under-treatment, and foster inclusivity in mental health care systems, ensuring better outcomes for all individuals
Distress · Health care · Masculinity · Mental distress · Mental health · Psychiatry · Clinical Psychology · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · Medicine · Psychology · Sex and Gender in Healthcare
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Meta-analyses of the relationship between conformity to masculine norms and mental health-related outcomes.
Epidemiology of DSM-5 Drug Use Disorder
The Experience of Symptoms of Depression in Men vs Women
The role of masculinity in men's help-seeking for depression
Evaluation of a male-specific psychotherapeutic program for major depressive disorder compared to cognitive behavioral therapy and waitlist
Is the diagnosis and treatment of depression gender-biased? Evidence from a population-based aging cohort in Sweden
Association between psychotherapy use, sexual orientation, and traditional masculinity among psychologically distressed men
Examining the relations between masculine gender role conflict and men's expectations about counseling
Status loss due to Covid-19, traditional masculinity, and their association with recent suicide attempts and suicidal ideation
Effects of diagnosing major depressive disorders in men on externalizing depression symptoms and conformity to traditional masculinity ideologies
Sex Differences in Masculine Depression
Hegemonic Masculinity and Mental Health Among Older White Men in the U.S
Measurement invariance and psychometric properties of a German-language Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory among cisgender sexual minority and heterosexually identified women and men
Development of the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory
Conformity to masculine norms and its association with drinking behaviors and alcohol-related consequences among adult men
| Highly cited | No |
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