712
Views
8
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Articles

Suicide risk, psychological distress and treatment preferences in men presenting with prototypical, externalising and mixed depressive symptomology

, ORCID Icon, , ORCID Icon, ORCID Icon &
Pages 309-316 | Received 28 Oct 2019, Accepted 24 Mar 2020, Published online: 13 May 2020
 

Abstract

Background

The prevalence of depression in men is significantly lower than women despite male suicide being higher. Therefore, improving the understanding and detection of depression in men is an important research and clinical aim.

Aims

To examine the prevalence of prototypic, externalising and mixed depressive symptoms and their relation to mental illness and suicide risk

Methods

Quantitative data were obtained through a survey of N = 1000 Canadian males (median age  =  49.63 years, SD = 14.60). A range of validated scales were incorporated including the PHQ-9, K6, SBQ-R and MDRS.

Results

Using established cut-off scores, the proportions classified into distinct symptom groups were: not depressed (69%), prototypical (8%), mixed (12%) and externalising (11%). Risk of mental illness and suicidal risk was significantly elevated in all depressed groups. Compared to the not-depressed group, those experiencing only externalising symptoms and those with mixed symptomology were at significantly increased risk of mental illness as well current suicide risk.

Conclusion

These results highlight the clinical importance of considering a broad range of potential presentations of depression in men, all of which are associated with increased suicide risk.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Log in via your institution

Log in to Taylor & Francis Online

PDF download + Online access

  • 48 hours access to article PDF & online version
  • Article PDF can be downloaded
  • Article PDF can be printed
USD 53.00 Add to cart

Issue Purchase

  • 30 days online access to complete issue
  • Article PDFs can be downloaded
  • Article PDFs can be printed
USD 989.00 Add to cart

* Local tax will be added as applicable

Related Research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.