Depressive Symptomatology Research Articles

How do men and women differ in their depressive symptomatology? A gendered network analysis of depressive symptoms in a French population-based cohort

BackgroundThe experience of depressive manifestations and the presentation of symptoms in clinical settings may differ in men and women. Despite the extensive literature, it remains unclear how depressive manifestations interact at symptom levels in men and women. First, we aimed to describe and compare depressive networks by sex. Second, we examined symptom connections to Clinical depression and Functional Limitations as a proxy of self-recognition of a depressive episode. MethodsWe estimated networks from the 20 CES-D items in men and women from a large population-based French cohort. We computed centrality measures and ran comparisons. Then, we re-estimated two networks in men and women separately, adding, on the one hand, Clinical Depression and, on the other hand, Limitations due to a depressive episode. ResultsOver 200,000 participants were included in this study. Women were twice as likely to have a previous diagnosis of depression. Sex-ratio was less pronounced (1,7:1) for Limitations due to depression. Centrality measures revealed similar symptom patterns. However, network structures differed between men and women. We found some symptom connections to Clinical depression and Limitations to be non-invariant according to sex. LimitationsCross-sectional data does not capture the direction of the connections between symptoms and an eventual diagnosis. We lacked data about the diagnosis's context and could not account for other factors influencing depressive symptomatology. ConclusionsNetwork structures differed, suggesting gender-specific mechanisms in activating symptoms and depressive states. Addressing central symptoms evoking depressed moods with tailored interventions may serve to tackle depressive states in men and women.

Depressive symptomatology in older adults treated with behavioral activation: A network perspective

BackgroundLate-life depression is a serious mental health problem. Behavioral Activation (BA) is an effective, accessible psychotherapeutic treatment for older adults. However, little is known about which symptoms decrease and how associations between depressive symptoms change during BA treatment. MethodsUsing data from a cluster-randomized trial for older adults with late-life depression, we estimated a partial correlation network and a relative importance network of depressive symptoms before and after 8 weeks of BA treatment in primary care (n = 96). Networks were examined with measures of network structure, connectivity, centrality as well as stability. ResultsThe most central symptoms at baseline and post-treatment were anhedonia, fatigue, and feeling depressed. In contrast, sleeping problems had the lowest centrality. The post-treatment network was significantly more interconnected than at baseline. Moreover, all symptoms were significantly more central at post-treatment. ConclusionOur findings highlight the utility of the network approach to better understand symptom networks of depressed older adults before and after BA treatment. Results show that network connectivity and centrality of all symptoms increased after treatment. Future studies should investigate longitudinal idiographic networks to explore symptom dynamics within individuals over time.

Anhedonia and depression severity measures during ketamine administration in treatment-resistant depression.

Anhedonia is a core symptom of depression characterized by a diminished ability to experience pleasure. Currently available treatments for depression often fall short in adequately addressing anhedonia that often presents as a chronic and debilitating symptom. Ketamine is known to possess antianhedonic properties. This post-hoc analysis of a naturalistic observational study of treatment-resistant depression inpatients (n=28) analyzed antianhedonic response patterns measured by Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale and changes in Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology in responders (n=6) and non-responders (n=22) stratified per Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale during short-term ketamine treatment. Results show that responders significantly improve in anhedonia over time (p=0.0084) and at the 7th infusion and follow-up (both p<0.05). Non-responders reported significant reduction in anhedonia over time (p=0.0011) and at the 5th, 7th infusion and at the follow-up (all p's<0.05). Non-responders were also observed to improve significantly in self-reported depression at the 7th infusion (p=0.0219) but not at the follow-up. There is no complete overlap between change in depressive symptoms and anhedonia. Therefore, it might be assumed ketamine alleviates anhedonia as an individual symptom domain regardless of formal treatment outcome.

For whom is mind wandering stressful: The moderating role of dispositional emotionality and personality in predicting emotional experiences in everyday life

This study tested whether dispositional emotionality and personality traits moderated the emotion a person experienced when engaging in mind wandering. Participants (n = 264) completed measures of dispositional emotionality and personality. Then on two separate days they completed a 24-hour ecological momentary assessment protocol, responding every 30 min during wake times if they were mind wandering, and how angry, sad, anxious, and happy they felt, for a total of 8,530 assessments. Using multilevel models, we found the following when mind wandering versus not: trait anger predicted more anger, depressive symptomatology more sadness, openness to experience less sadness, neuroticism more anger, and conscientiousness less happiness. Results indicate a synchrony between emotions experienced while mind wandering to one’s dispositional emotionality and personality.

Effectiveness and Safety of Flumazenil Augmentation During Electroconvulsive Therapy.

Benzodiazepines are considered to negatively affect seizure quality and duration during electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Several researchers have advocated the use of flumazenil, a competitive benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, for patients treated with benzodiazepines during ECT. However, clinical evidence regarding flumazenil use in ECT remains sparse. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of flumazenil on seizure duration and adverse effects. All patients with depressive disorders, treated with flumazenil during a course of ECT in 2019 in a tertiary hospital, were identified through a retrospective chart review. Seizure duration was recorded before and after flumazenil administration. Effectiveness of ECT was assessed using the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology and the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale. Postictal agitation was ascertained by identifying patients who received additional sedatives immediately after ECT or who needed physical restraint. Twenty-six patients were included, receiving a total of 363 treatments, of which 263 were augmented with flumazenil. Flumazenil administration increased electroencephalogram seizure duration on average with 10.5 seconds comparing ECT with or without flumazenil (P = 0.003). In 21.8% of the cases, no increase in seizure duration was observed. Postictal agitation occurred at least once in 34.6% of the patients receiving flumazenil during their course of ECT. Our results show that flumazenil increases seizure duration, albeit with limited clinical implications. Noteworthy, the prevalence of postictal agitation is high. When confronted with short seizures, clinicians should therefore deploy other available techniques to lower seizure threshold before considering flumazenil.

Everyday discrimination and risk for clinical depression among a community sample of undocumented Latino immigrants in the United States

Undocumented Latino immigrants in the United States face pervasive discrimination that increases their risk for experiencing depressive symptomatology. Although research has linked discrimination to depressive symptoms more broadly, we do not know whether everyday forms of discrimination are associated with elevated risk for clinical depression among this population. Using data collected from a community sample of undocumented Latino immigrants during the 2015 Trump campaign, we found that everyday discrimination was associated with significantly higher odds of being classified as higher risk for clinical depression. Findings indicate everyday discrimination as a risk factor for clinical depression among undocumented Latino immigrants.

Associations between Mediterranean Diet Adherence, Quality of Life, and Mental Health in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The Mediterranean diet (MD) is well-known as a diet which may exert a protective effect against neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS). To date, only a few clinical surveys have assessed the potential effects of the MD in patients with MS. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the potential effects of MD compliance on disease disability, quality of life, physical activity, depressive symptomatology, and blood biochemical parameters related to nutritional status in MS patients, considering several socio-demographic, anthropometric, and lifestyle characteristics. This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 558 adults with MS aged 18-64 years. Relevant questionnaires were utilized to evaluate socio-demographic and anthropometric parameters, disease disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale, EDSS), multidimensional health-related quality (MS Quality of Life-54, MSQOL-54), physical activity levels (International Physical Activity Questionnaire, IPAQ), depression (Beck Depression Inventory II, BDI-II), and MD adherence (MedDietScore), while several blood biochemical parameters were retrieved from the patients' medical records. Enhanced MD compliance was independently associated with a decreased frequency of overweight/obesity, as well as abdominal obesity, in patients suffering from MS. Elevated MD compliance was also independently associated with a decreased incidence of advanced disease disability, a higher prevalence of elevated physical activity, an improved quality of life, and lower depressive symptoms, as well as higher levels of certain blood biochemical parameters, which are effective indicators of iron deficiency and malnutrition. The present study found that higher MD adherence may slow down disease disability, promoting a better quality of life and mental health in adults with MS. Future prospective surveys are required to obtain conclusive results.

Depression and the Neighborhood Experience of Black and Latine Adults

Black and Latine adults living in high-burden urban neighborhoods are at risk for experiencing poor mental health and physical health outcomes. The current study examined the associations between neighborhood concentrated disadvantage and perceptions of neighborhood social cohesion to depressive symptoms, via perceived fear of neighborhood crime. Participants included 585 adults (87% female; 54% Black and 46% Latine) who were parents or caregivers of children and adolescents, representing 30 high-burden urban neighborhoods within one large city in the United States. Nearly one in three adults indicated clinical levels of depressive symptomatology. There was a significant indirect association between neighborhood social cohesion and depressive symptoms for Black adults via heightened levels of fear of crime. Perceptions of neighborhood social cohesion were directly associated with depressive symptoms for Latine adults. These results emphasize the role of distinct neighborhood experiences in understanding mental health among Black and Latine adults living in high-burden urban neighborhoods.

Consequences of caring for the physical health, mental health and subjective well-being of Chilean older adults

Using a propensity score matching approach, this study evaluates the effect of caring on the physical health, mental health and subjective well-being of Chilean older people. The average treatment effect was not significant in any of the outcomes to physical health. However, older carers – and those who care intensely – were more likely to have depressive and anxious symptomatology and lower life satisfaction than older non-carers. Interventions should consider strategies that favour mental health and avoid caregiver burden, considering the interaction between caring and the challenges of ageing. This could improve the quality of life of carers and those being cared for.

Sex-Specific Pathways From Prenatal Maternal Inflammation to Adolescent Depressive Symptoms

Prenatal maternal inflammation has been associated with major depressive disorder in offspring in adulthood as well as with internalizing and externalizing symptoms in childhood; however, the association between prenatal inflammation and offspring depression in adolescence has yet to be examined. To determine whether maternal levels of inflammatory biomarkers during pregnancy are associated with depressive symptomatology in adolescent-aged offspring and to examine how gestational timing, offspring sex, and childhood psychiatric symptoms impact these associations. This was an observational study of a population-based birth cohort from the Child Health and Development Studies (CHDS), which recruited almost all mothers receiving obstetric care from the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan (KFHP) in Alameda County, California, between June 1959 and September 1966. Pregnancy data and blood sera were collected from mothers, and offspring psychiatric symptom data were collected in childhood (ages 9-11 years) and adolescence (ages 15-17 years). Mother-offspring dyads with available maternal prenatal inflammatory biomarkers during first and/or second trimesters and offspring depressive symptom data at adolescent follow-up were included. Data analyses took place between March 2020 and June 2023. Levels of inflammatory biomarkers (interleukin 6 [IL-6], IL-8, IL-1 receptor antagonist [IL-1RA], and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-II) assayed from maternal sera in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. Self-reported depressive symptoms at adolescent follow-up. A total of 674 mothers (mean [SD] age, 28.1 [5.9] years) and their offspring (350 male and 325 female) were included in this study. Higher second trimester IL-6 was significantly associated with greater depressive symptoms in offspring during adolescence (b, 0.57; SE, 0.26); P = .03). Moderated mediation analyses showed that childhood externalizing symptoms significantly mediated the association between first trimester IL-6 and adolescent depressive symptoms in male offspring (b, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.02-0.47), while childhood internalizing symptoms mediated the association between second trimester IL-1RA and adolescent depressive symptoms in female offspring (b, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.19-1.75). In this study, prenatal maternal inflammation was associated with depressive symptoms in adolescent-aged offspring. The findings of the study suggest that pathways to adolescent depressive symptomatology from prenatal risk factors may differ based on both the timing of exposure to prenatal inflammation and offspring sex.

Effects of DMT on mental health outcomes in healthy volunteers

Psilocybin, a serotonergic psychedelic, is being increasingly researched in clinical studies for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. The relatively lengthy duration of oral psilocybin’s acute effects (4–6 h) may have pragmatic and cost-effectiveness limitations. Here, we explored the effects of intravenous (IV) N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a closely related, but faster-acting psychedelic intervention, on mental health outcomes in healthy volunteers. Data is reported from two separate analyses: (1) A comparison of mental health-related variables 1 week after 7, 14, 18, and 20 mg of IV DMT versus IV saline placebo (n = 13) and, (2) A prospective dataset assessing effects before versus 2 weeks after 20 mg of IV DMT (n = 17). Mental health outcomes included measures of depression severity (QIDS-SR16), trait anxiety (STAI-T), Neuroticism (NEO-FFI), wellbeing (WHO-5), meaning in life (MLQ), optimism (LOT-R), and gratitude (GQ-6). In both the prospective and placebo-controlled datasets, significant improvements in scores of depression were found 1–2 weeks after DMT administration. Significant reductions in trait Neuroticism were only found for the placebo-controlled sample. Finally, changes in depression and trait anxiety correlated with acute peak experiences (assessed via ‘Oceanic Boundlessness’). While the use of two separate cohorts in pooled analysis limits the generalizability of these correlational findings, these results suggest that DMT may reduce depressive symptomatology by inducing peak experiences. The short half-life of IV DMT and its potential for flexible dosing via controlled infusions makes it an appealing candidate for psychedelic medicine. Further research in clinical samples is needed to corroborate the therapeutic potential of DMT.

Symptomatology and Quality of Life of Older People With HIV and Comorbid Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases From an HIV Clinic in Birmingham, Alabama.

Psychological symptomatology and quality of life (QoL) have been studied in older people with HIV (PWH) and those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), respectively, but there is a dearth of studies in older PWH with COPD. Our study compared depressive symptoms, anxiety, and QoL between older PWH with and without COPD using data from an HIV clinic in Birmingham, Alabama, from January 2018 to February 2020. Data on depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (Patient Health Questionnaire-5 Anxiety), and QoL (EuroQoL-5 Dimension) were analyzed. Among 690 PWH aged 50 years or older, 102 individuals (14.8%) had COPD. Significant differences were found between the two groups in depressive symptoms and components of QoL (e.g., mobility, self-care, usual activities, and pain/discomfort), but not in anxiety and general health. Experiencing COPD may worsen depressive symptomatology and QoL in older PWH, highlighting the need for tailored health care and research for this population.

Psychopathological symptoms in fibromyalgia and their associations with resistance to pharmacotherapy with SNRI.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is often comorbid with psychiatric disorders. Moreover, several studies show that psychiatric disorders may be linked to the severity and impact of FM. Therefore, the study described in the article had two main goals: (1) to explore various psychopathological symptom dimensions in patients with fibromyalgia and secondly, (2) to examine the links between psychopathology and response to treatment with serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI). This cross-sectional study was performed between December 2020 and November 2022. The definition of resistance to SNRI was <30% reduction of pain after ≥8 weeks of treatment. 30 FM subjects responsive to SNRI (FM T[+]), 32 patients non-responsive to SNRI (FM T[-]) and 30 healthy controls were enrolled. Participants were examined by physicians and completed self-report tools to evaluate levels of depression (Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), anxiety (State and Trait Anxiety Inventory), anhedonia (Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale), bipolar symptoms (Mood Disorder Questionnaire, Hypomania Checklist), and dissociation (Dissociative Experiences Scale - Revised). ANOVA analysis and a series of simple logistic regressions were used to examine the associations between psychopathological variables and response to SNRI. FM T[-] vs. FM T[+] showed higher levels of: depression, state and trait anxiety and anhedonia as well as higher proportion of scores indicating the presence of anxiety disorder. Increased severity of depression, anxiety and anhedonia were predictors of resistance to SNRI. Modifiable psychopathological symptoms vary in FM T[+] vs. FM T[-] and are predictors of resistance to SNRI. Psychological assessment should be integrated into standard care for FM patients.

Effects of the MIND&amp;GAIT physical exercise programme on depressive symptoms in institutionalised frail older adult: A Pilot Study

The main purpose of this study was to analyse the effects of MIND&amp;GAIT, a physical exercise programme, on depressive symptoms in frail institutionalised older people. Through a pilot study, thirty-five Portuguese frail older people (19 female, 16 male), with a mean age of 83.45 ± 9.73 years, participated in this study. The participants were randomly assigned into an experimental group (n = 19) and a control group (n = 16). Intervention was based on MIND&amp;GAIT, physical exercise programme for frail older people. Depressive symptomatology was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) before and after 12 weeks of intervention. Results showed significant differences in depressive symptoms between the experimental group and the control group after the intervention. Depressive symptomatology decreased in the experimental group, while the participants in the control group had a significant increase in this indicator at the post-intervention moment. In general, the older people who were involved in the intervention group, improved their depressive symptoms, and the older who did not participate in the MIND&amp;GAIT physical exercise programme, worsen this indicator. Considering the present results, we can conclude that this pilot study has presented initial findings that MIND&amp;GAIT can contribute to improving depressive symptomatology in this population. This study has yielded essential data to construct subsequent randomized-controlled trials that can be effectively and feasibly executed within the community. Keywords: physical exercise, depressive symptoms; frail older people

The effects of low familial support and depressive symptomatology on suicide attempt among adolescents: A sex-based assessment.

Researchers have traditionally tested the benefits of social support, showing that it promotes positive health outcomes. There is a lack of research assessing the deleterious impact of poor social support. Low familial support can serve as a stressor in the lives of adolescents, ultimately fostering negative emotions and maladaptive coping, such as attempted suicide. Guided by general strain theory, this study uses two waves of data from the National Study of Adolescence to Adult Health (N = 13,827; n = 7105 for females, n = 6722 for males) to test the effect of low familial support on depressive symptomatology and whether the latter mediates the effect of low familial support on suicide attempt for both males and females. The analyses reveal that low familial support is positively and significantly associated with depressive symptomatology for male and female adolescents. Regarding suicide attempt, adolescents with lower levels of familial support and higher depressive symptomatology were likely to report attempting suicide. Contrary to theoretical expectations, depressive symptomatology did not mediate the relationship between low familial support and suicide attempt. Overall, the results provide justification for efforts to provide resources to adolescents who lack familial support.

Predicting progression of cognitive decline to dementia using dyadic patterns of subjective reporting: evidence from the CompAS longitudinal study.

To analyze the validity of self and informant reports, depressive symptomatology, and some sociodemographic variables to predict the risk of cognitive decline at different follow-up times. A total of 337 participants over 50 years of age included in the CompAS and classified as Cognitively Unimpaired (CU), Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) groups were assessed at baseline and three follow-ups. A short version of the QAM was administered to assess the severity of subjective cognitive complaints (SCCs), and the GDS-15 was used to evaluate the depressive symptoms. At each follow-up assessment, participants were reclassified according to the stability, regression or progression of their conditions. Logistic regression analysis was used to predict which CU, SCD and MCI participants would remain stable, regress or progress at a 3rd follow-up by using self- and informant-reported complaints, depressive symptomatology, age and education at baseline and 2nd follow-ups as the predictive variables. Overall, self-reported complaints predicted progression between the asymptomatic and presymptomatic stages. As the objective deterioration increased, i.e., when SCD progressed to MCI or dementia, the SCCs reported by informants proved the best predictors of progression. Depressive symptomatology was also a predictor of progression from CU to SCD and from SCD to MCI. A late increase in self-reported complaints make valid estimates to predict subjective decline at asymptomatic stages. However, an early increase in complaints reported by informants was more accurate in predicting objective decline from asymptomatic stages. Both, early and late decrease in self-reported complaints successfully predict dementia from prodromic stage. Only late decrease in self-reported complaints predict reversion from prodromic and pre-symptomatic stages.

Family-based and external discrimination experienced by multiracial individuals: Links to internalizing symptoms and familial support.

Multiracial individuals are exposed to many forms of interpersonal racial discrimination, including general discrimination against their monoracial groups and discrimination against being multiracial. Because their families include members of different racial groups, multiracial people may also be exposed to various forms of discrimination from within the family. In the present study, we leverage recent advances in latent profile analysis to identify distinct patterns of family-based and external (i.e., from outside the family unit) discrimination experienced by multiracial college students, the differential impacts of these discrimination patterns on depressive and anxiety symptoms, and whether parental support of participants' multiracial experiences and identity impacts their exposure to different forms of discrimination. In a sample of 635 diverse multiracial college students (Mage = 21.2, SD = 5.3, range = 18-57, 74.0% female) from three U.S. universities, we identified three distinct discrimination profiles: High External and Familial Discrimination (43.2%), Average External Low Familial Discrimination (32.1%), and Low External and Familial Discrimination (24.7%). Profiles differed in depressive and anxiety symptomatology, with those in the High External and Familial Discrimination profile displaying the worst outcomes. Parental support of multiracial experiences was associated with lower levels of family-based discrimination. The complex relations between parental support, family-based discrimination, and multiracial participants' internalizing symptomology are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Screening for antenatal maternal depression: comparative performance of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Patient Health Questionnaire-9.

Maternal antenatal depression affects 21-28% of expectants globally and negatively impacts both maternal and child health in the short and long term. To compare the psychometric properties and clinical utility of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) in pregnant individuals. In this cross-sectional study, 953 third-trimester pregnant Italian individuals completed both the EPDS and the PHQ-9. Both scales demonstrated good internal consistency (EPDS ω=0.83, PHQ-9 ω=0.80) and a moderate correlation between their scores (r=0.59). Concordance at recommended cut-off points (≥14 for both) was moderate (k=0.55). Factor analyses indicated a bifactor solution for the EPDS (dimensions: "depression" and "anxiety") and for the PHQ-9 (dimensions: "depression", "pregnancy symptoms", "somatic"). Benchmarks for clinical change were also established. The EPDS and PHQ-9 capture distinct aspects of perinatal depressive symptomatology. Clinically, these findings recommend using both scales in obstetric and gynaecologic settings to minimize false positives and negatives.

Efficacy and Safety of Adding Lurasidone to Ongoing Therapy With Lithium or Valproate for the Treatment of an Acute Bipolar Depressive Episode: A Post Hoc Analysis of 2 Placebo-Controlled Trials.

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety profile of lurasidone combined with either lithium or valproate, in the short-term treatment of patients with bipolar depression. Data were pooled from two 6-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of patients with bipolar depression on stable doses of lithium or valproate randomized to lurasidone (20-120 mg/d) or placebo. Efficacy measures included the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, Clinical Global Impressions Bipolar Scale, and the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology via self-assessment and were analyzed using a mixed model for repeated measures approach. Notably larger week 6 effect sizes were observed when lurasidone was added to lithium, compared with when lurasidone was added to valproate, on 2 of the 3 depression outcome measures, Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale total score (d = 0.45 vs 0.22) and Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology via self-assessment (d = 0.63 vs 0.29); the efficacy advantage was smaller on the Clinical Global Impressions Bipolar Scale depression score (d = 0.34 vs 0.29). Similar adverse event profiles were observed for lurasidone treatment in combination with either lithium or valproate. The most frequently reported events (≥5%) in both groups were nausea, parkinsonism, somnolence, akathisia, and insomnia. Minimal changes in weight, lipids, and measures of glycemic control were observed during treatment with lurasidone combined with either lithium or valproate. Lurasidone added to either lithium or valproate was found to be an effective treatment for bipolar depression, with a larger antidepressant effect observed when lurasidone was combined with lithium. There were no clinically meaningful differences in the safety or tolerability of lurasidone when used adjunctively with lithium or valproate.

Gender differences in prevalence and associations between cognitive symptoms and suicidal ideation in patients with recurrent major depressive disorder: findings from the Chinese NSSD study

BackgroundThis study aimed to explore gender differences in associations between cognitive symptoms and suicidal ideation (SI) among patients with recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD).MethodsWe recruited 1222 patients with recurrent MDD from the National Survey on Symptomatology of Depression (NSSD), a survey designed to investigate the symptoms experienced during current major depressive episodes in China. A four-point Likert questionnaire was used to assess the frequency of cognitive symptoms and SI in the past two weeks.ResultsGender differences in clinical features and cognitive symptoms of participants with recurrent MDD were found. Specifically, male patients had a higher prevalence of memory loss, decreased verbal output, indecisiveness, and impaired interpersonal relationships, while female patients exhibited a higher prevalence of impaired social and occupational functioning (all P < 0.05). No significant difference in SI prevalence was found between male and female patients. The logistic regression analysis revealed that in male patients, SI was associated with indecisiveness and impaired interpersonal relationships. In female patients, reduced verbal output and impaired social and professional functions were also associated with SI in addition to the above-mentioned variables.ConclusionThe findings of gender differences in associations between cognitive symptoms and SI highlight the need to carefully assess gender-specific cognitive predictors of SI in patients with recurrent MDD. This has further implications for more targeted prevention and treatment strategies for SI based on gender.