Male Depression?
Q.The most common problem associated with male menopause is depression which is closely related to impotence and problems with male sexuality. Approximately 40% of men in their 40s, 50s and 60s will experience some degree of difficulty in attaining and sustaining erections, lethargy, depression, increased irritability, and mood swings that characterize male menopause. The symptoms of depression in men are commonly not recognized for several reasons: The symptoms of male depression are different than the classic symptoms we think of as depression Men deny they have problems because they are supposed to "be strong" Men deny they have a problem with their sexuality and don't understand the relationship with depression The symptom cluster of male depression is not well known so family members, physicians, and mental health professionals fail to recognize it.
A.Male depression is a disease with devastating consequences. To paraphrase from Jed Diamond's book Male Menopause 80% of all suicides in the US are men The male suicide rate at midlife is three times higher; for men over 65, seven times higher The history of depression makes the risk of suicide seventy-eight times greater (Sweden) 20 million American will experience depression sometimes in their lifetime 60-80% of depressed adults never get professional help It can take up to ten years and three health professionals to properly diagnose this disorder 80-90% of people seeking help get relief from their symptoms Differences between Male and Female depression: Men are more likely to act out their inner turmoil while women are more likely to turn their feelings inward. The following chart from Jed Diamond's book, Male Menopause, illustrates these differences. Female depression Male depression Blame themselves Feel others are to blame Feel sad, apathetic, and worthless Feel angry, irritable, and ego inflated At this time, there is no one best agent for the pharmacological management of the unique issues associated with male depression at midlife. Drs. Caroline Dott and Andrew Dott are professional lecturers and teachers with a special interest in the interactions between the biological and psychological basis of human behavior at midlife. Among their lecture topics are female and male menopause, the hormonal basis of human behavior, and issues related to depression and anxiety. They are available to travel and give seminars on the topics covered in this website both nationally and internationally.
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