Differences in Depression in Males and Females

    It is well established in the psychology and neuroscience community that females are more likely to experience depression than their male counterparts. Molecular differences in the brain as well as cultural influences may affect the way in which each gender experiences depression as well as suicidal ideation. In Sex differences in the transcription of glutamate transporters in major depression and suicide, Sodhi et al. investigate differences in glutamatergic transmission and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) function in males and females. Likewise, Sunjata Gupta explores psychological differences in males and females caused by societal expectations in her article titled Boys experience depression differently than girls. Here’s why that matters.

    Through their investigation of postmortem brain tissue in males and females, Sodhi et al. found that genes encoding for glutamate transporters in the DLPFC are overexpressed in females with major depressive disorder (MDD) compared with males with MDD. The overexpression of glutamate transporter genes causes increased release of glutamate in the synapses of the DLPFC, ultimately leading to improper functioning of the DLPFC. Importantly, stress in females is a significant catalyst in the overexpression of glutamatergic genes and the creation of excess synaptic glutamate. Estrogen in females, which acts as a hormonal response to stress, causes the EAAT2 gene (which regulates glutamatergic transmission) to be activated. Thus, stress can worsen symptoms of MDD in females at the molecular level. Furthermore, suicide can be associated with MDD because disfunction of the DLPFC leads to poorly regulated emotions and decision-making. Though males do not experience overexpression of glutamatergic genes, Sodhi et al. discovered that males with MDD are more likely to commit suicide than females. Gupta’s study further investigates this idea of increased suicide rates in males with depression.

    Gupta explains the negative effects of cultural norms and gender stereotypes on mental health of males and females. Females are reportedly impacted by the prevalence of sexual violence, negative body talk on social media, and legislation undermining women’s rights. However, males are strongly impacted by toxic masculinity in the media and in general society. Data on suicide rates in the United States in 2021 indicate that there was nearly four times as many male suicides as female suicides. Gupta also stresses that depressive symptoms in males manifest as violent behavior. Mirroring Gupta’s point, Sodhi et al. found that men who committed suicide were more likely to do so violently. Males tend to express their depressive feelings outwardly, often in the form of aggressive behavior, whereas females are more likely to internalize feelings of depression. The differences in the way in which males and females experience depression can predict their behavior as well as their chance of committing suicide.

    It is shown that depression and suicidal ideation can have distinct meanings for each gender. Thus, the definition of depression and major depressive disorder must be expounded on as a society in order to better accommodate the differences in gender. Furthermore, both studies imply that males and females who experience depression should be treated differently due to gender differences at psychological and molecular levels. Society may benefit from medication dedicated to treating glutamate expression in the female DLPFC as well as resources for males experiencing depression or aggressive behavior. Both Sodhi et al. and Gupta call for action to combat the discrepancy between male and female depression.

References:

Gupta, S. (2023). Boys experience depression differently than girls. Here’s why that matters. Science News.

Powers, B., Joyce, C., Kleinman, J. E., Hyde, T. M., Ajilore, O., Leow, A., & Sodhi, M. S. (2020). Sex differences in the transcription of glutamate transporters in major depression and suicide. Journal of affective disorders, 277, 244–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.07.055