Biological Sex Differences in Depression: A Systematic Review

Biological Research for Nursing
Ainitze LabakaJoana Pérez-Tejada

Abstract

Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and its prevalence is 2 times higher in women than in men. There is, however, a lack of data on sex-specific pathophysiology of this disorder. The purpose of this systematic review is to identify the biological sex differences found in major depressive disorder (MDD) in studies published in the last 10 years. We conducted a literature search using the Medline, PsycInfo, PubMed, and Web of Science databases, selecting English-language studies that included physiological measures compared by sex in addition to MDD. We identified 20 relevant studies, which consisted primarily of mixed methodology and samples. The reported physiological measures comprised a variety of serum biomarkers, gene mRNA expression, and brain activity. Findings suggest different biological patterns in those with MDD depending on sex. Specifically, women presented higher levels of inflammatory, neurotrophic, and serotonergic markers and a stronger correlation between levels of some inflammatory and neurotrophic factors and the severity of symptoms. This review provides information about possible different biological patterns for women and men with depressive disorder and may have important implications...Continue Reading

References

Mar 21, 2003·Journal of Affective Disorders·Ronald C Kessler
Dec 4, 2003·Molecular Psychiatry·L BooijW J Riedel
Feb 6, 2004·Archives of General Psychiatry·Molly M ShoresDaniel R Kivlahan
Apr 20, 2004·The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease·Gordon Barraclough Parker, Heather Lorraine Brotchie
Sep 24, 2004·Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine·Sheryl S Smith, Catherine S Woolley
Jun 29, 2005·Journal of Affective Disorders·Sheila M MarcusA John Rush
Jun 19, 2007·Journal of Psychiatric Research·Maura BoldriniVictoria Arango
Dec 25, 2007·Gender Medicine·Marrie H J Bekker, Janneke van Mens-Verhulst
Jan 9, 2008·Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology·Gen KanayamaHarrison G Pope
Jun 20, 2008·The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology·Bernadeta SzewczykMark C Austin
Oct 24, 2008·Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Dara M CannonWayne C Drevets
Feb 3, 2009·European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·Henricus G RuhéAart H Schene
Mar 12, 2009·Physiology & Behavior·Matia B Solomon, James P Herman
Apr 24, 2009·Psychoneuroendocrinology·Kevin K ChopraRobert D Levitan
Jun 27, 2009·European Psychiatry : the Journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists·A Riecher-Rössler
Jul 25, 2009·Journal of Psychiatric Practice·Fahd Aziz ZarroufMartin Kommor
Aug 10, 2010·Psychoneuroendocrinology·S HäfnerUNKNOWN KORA Study Investigators
Oct 19, 2010·Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology·Tuck C NgunEric Vilain
Jul 28, 2011·Stress : the International Journal on the Biology of Stress·Kim HinkelmannChristian Otte
May 15, 2012·Hormone and Metabolic Research = Hormon- Und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones Et Métabolisme·A Fernández-GuastiR J Handa
Oct 1, 2013·Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology·Jenna McHenryMohamed Kabbaj
Apr 20, 2014·Frontiers in Immunology·Marc-André Bellavance, Serge Rivest
May 29, 2014·Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry·Amanda P Borrow, Nicole M Cameron
Jun 6, 2014·Neurochemical Research·Taiane de Azevedo CardosoJean Pierre Oses
Oct 14, 2014·Current Psychiatry Reports·Jennifer L Gordon, Susan S Girdler
Jan 13, 2015·Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Joshua KaufmanChristine DeLorenzo
Jun 25, 2015·Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience : JPN·Paul R Albert

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Aug 8, 2020·The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics·Gustavo A Martinez-Muniz, Susan K Wood
Apr 30, 2020·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Mike C JentschRobert A Schoevers
Aug 23, 2020·Journal of Clinical Medicine·Adriana FarréFrancina Fonseca
Oct 20, 2020·Frontiers in Neurology·Irene GöttgensSabine Oertelt-Prigione
Dec 29, 2020·Behavioural Brain Research·Pei X LuoBrian C Trainor
Jan 28, 2021·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Juyeong Kim, Eun-Cheol Park
Jan 19, 2021·The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry : Official Journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry·Doyoung KimDamien Gallagher
Apr 4, 2021·Women's Health Issues : Official Publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health·Ronald AnguzuLeonard E Egede
Apr 13, 2021·Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences : CMLS·Donghui ZhuZhen Zhao
May 25, 2021·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Samara J BrownKelly A Newell
Jun 21, 2021·International Journal of Mental Health Systems·George ScottJulio Jiménez-Chávez
Jul 17, 2021·Neuroscience Letters·Connor M Wander, Juan Song
Aug 10, 2021·Frontiers in Psychiatry·Jessica Fernández-SevillanoPilar Saíz
Aug 19, 2021·Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova·G E MazoA O Kibitov
Jul 13, 2021·Current Sexual Health Reports·Leonor de Oliveira, Joana Carvalho
Aug 4, 2021·Pediatrics·Craig F GarfieldEmily Miller

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
hormone replacement therapy
PCR
ELISA

Software Mentioned

Mendeley manager

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
Yvette van SteenIlonca Vaartjes
The Cleft Palate-craniofacial Journal : Official Publication of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association
Morna J LiddleAndrew R Thompson
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
Gianni L FaeddaAthanasios Koukopoulos
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
Nathaniel A SowaBradley N Gaynes
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved