Sex differences in depressive symptoms and their networks in a treatment-seeking population - a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: The higher prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) in females relative to males is well-established. Some authors have posited this difference arises to divergent symptom profiles in females vs. males. However, empirical tests of this hypothesis have yielded equivocal results. Here, we investigate sex differences in MDD of individual symptoms and symptom networks in a treatment-seeking sample. METHODS: We assessed depressive symptoms using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17) in 590 treatment-seeking adults with MDD (300 females). We examined group differences in symptom endorsement. We investigated symptom networks and estimated Gaussian Graphical Models. Finally, we compared the female and male networks using the Network Comparison Test. RESULTS: Females scored significantly higher in psychological anxiety (p