Men at a Disadvantage? Analyses of (Equal) Treatment of Men and Women with Depression

Background: Due to gender specific prevalence rates reported in the literature, one may assume that depression differs between men and women, and hence one may expect different effects of similar treatments, especially with regard to a possible disadvantage of male patients. Methods: The present study tested possible disadvantages arising from similar treatment of male inpatients with depression compared to treatment of female inpatients, investigating 3 aspects: 1) symptom severity, 2) treatment outcome, and 3) outcome differences ascribable to therapist's sex. Analyses were based on retrospective data of 551 men and 1,035 women who had been treated for primary depression at the Schon Klinik Bad Bramstedt (Germany) between the years 2006 and 2008. Results: Results showed that men, even though less severe, suffered from similar symptoms as women. Male patients had smaller effect sizes, but were more satisfied with the overall treatment. Therapist's sex only had an effect on female patients: The ones having been treated by male therapists, were more likely to further recommend treatment at the clinic than those having been treated by female therapists. Conclusion: We conclude that current equal treatment does not lead to disadvantages in the quantitative smaller group of male inpatients with depression.