Guys, You're Just as Depressed as Women

Depression might be known more as a women's disease, but new research shows men suffer just as much—only differently. When rage, risk-taking, and substance abuse are taken into account, men are just as likely to be diagnosed with depression as women, the study says. In fact, if nontraditional symptoms are properly identified, men may actually be more likely to suffer from major depression, the Los Angeles Times reports, adding it's news that may help explain why men are four times more likely to commit suicide.

Researchers created two checklists—one gender-neutral, and one for how males react to the disease—to see if men could be diagnosed more accurately. After analyzing 5,700 adults for behaviors like anger attacks and irritability, about 30% of men and women were found to have experienced depression at some point, while 26% of men and 22% of women battled major depression. "We have not been asking about and taking into account a range of symptoms that may be gender-specific," said one expert, while the study lead told USA Today, "If we can get men who have depression to recognize it in themselves and get treatment, that is really significant." (More depression stories.)