Citation

Bjerkeset O, Romundstad PR, Gunnell D. Br. J. Psychiatry 2008; 192(6): 474-475.

Affiliation

Department for Research and Development, Levanger Hospital, Nord-Trondelag Health Trust, Kirkegt. 2 7600 Levanger, Norway. ottar.bjerkeset@ntnu.no.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Royal College of Psychiatry)

DOI

10.1192/bjp.bp.107.045203

PMID

18515904

Abstract

The incidence of depression is higher in women than men but the reverse pattern is seen with suicide. In a cohort of 50 692 Norwegians we found that suicide risk associated with comorbid anxiety and depression was two-fold higher in men (OR=7.4, 95% CI 3.1-17.5) than women (OR=2.9, 95% CI 0.8-10.6), although statistical evidence for a difference was weak (P=0.4). If real, these gender differences could reflect either a more severe symptom profile in men with self-reported anxiety and depression, perhaps because of gender differences with regard to the stigma associated with mental illness, or gender differences in the way men respond to mental illness (e.g. self-medication/help-seeking).

Language: en