Men with a high burden of mood-disorder symptoms attend GP practices more frequently than those with a low burden but only half receive a diagnosis of depression, an Australian study suggests.  

The researchers argue men’s experiences of depression might be better characterised by externalising symptoms such as anger, alcohol misuse or risk-taking rather than traditional symptoms such as chronic low mood and amotivation. 

This wasn’t, however, being sufficiently reflected in GP training or resources such as depression symptom questionnaires, the team, led by the Freemasons Centre for Male Health and Wellbeing at the University of Adelaide, said.

Over five years, they monitored health services use by a cohort of 1464 Adelaide men aged between 35 and 80 who were enrolled in a health and wellbeing study (Men Androgen Inflammation Lifestyle Environment and Stress).