Differenze di genere nella sintomatologia dell'umore: Confronto tra spettro dell'umore sottosoglia verso disturbi di Asse I

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate gender differences in mood spectrum symptomatology in a sample of bipolar and unipolar patients and gastroenterological patients. Methods: This study was carried out in 102 patients with bipolar disorder, 117 with recurrent depression, both in partial or complete remission, and 114 subjects without lifetime or current mental disorders, recruited among outpatients of a gastroenterology clinic; they were assessed through the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and the Structured Clinical Interview for Mood Spectrum. Results: The mean total scores on the Structured Clinical Interview for Mood Spectrum in women of the gastroenterological group were significantly higher as compared with men (p < 0.05) (Fig. 1). Considering the Structured Clinical Interview for Mood Spectrum depressive component, the total scores were higher in women in the bipolar disorder (p = 0.05) and in the gastroenterological groups (p < 0.01) (Figs. 2, 3). Conclusions: Gender differences in mood spectrum symptomatology were less prominent in patients than in gastroenterological patients, suggesting that the impact of gender is stronger in subthreshold mood conditions than in Axis I mood disorders. The systematic study of gender differences in the phenomenology of mental disorders could represent a useful method for investigating some mechanisms that may underlie psychopathology.