Depression symptoms differ between men and women

According to data from the World Health Organization, more than 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression. Among them, more than 50% of female depression patients have more severe symptoms than male patients. A study by Brigham and Women's Hospital in the United States found that women are twice as likely to suffer from depression as men. Scientists explain that differences in fetal growth and development make women more emotionally vulnerable. Clinically, there are several differences between depression patients of different genders.

1. Women are more prone to daydreaming. Female patients with depression are more likely to be immersed in negative emotions and experience symptoms such as self-blame and crying for no reason, which makes the patients feel worse; men will distract themselves when they are depressed, which helps relieve depression.

2. Women are more likely to suffer setbacks. When faced with negative life events, such as divorce or job loss, women are more likely to become depressed, even to burst into tears and become devastated. This may be related to the interaction between estrogen and mood-regulating neurotransmitters.

3. Women have more complications. Female patients with depression are more likely to develop eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, and are more likely to have complications such as anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

4. Men are more likely to drink alcohol. When men are depressed, they are more likely to numb themselves by overwork, or become addicted to the Internet, gambling, etc. to hide their sadness. Some people even drink to drown their sorrows or abuse psychotropic drugs, such as sleeping pills. Men are also more likely to be irritated and even stir up trouble.

5. Symptoms are more difficult to recognize in men. Women are better able to perceive psychological abnormalities when they are depressed and describe their symptoms to their doctors so that they can be detected and treated early. Men are more introverted, and even their family members find it difficult to notice their abnormalities, so their condition is only discovered when serious symptoms such as self-harm occur.

6. Men are more likely to commit suicide. Because men often have difficulty receiving diagnosis and treatment for a long time, they are more likely to suffer serious consequences such as suicide.