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NCT Number: NCT07474363

Gender Differences in Depression Severity, Gender-Sensitive Symptoms, Resilience, and Stigma in Major Depressive Disorder

Depression is a common and serious mental health condition that affects mood, thoughts, behavior, and overall quality of life. It arises from a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. While depression is more frequently diagnosed in women, research suggests that men may experience and express depressive symptoms differently. Men are more likely to display symptoms such as irritability, anger, impulsivity, or increased alcohol use, and they may be less likely to seek professional psychological support due to social expectations and fear of stigma.

Stigma-both self-stigma (internalized negative beliefs about having a mental illness) and perceived social stigma (concerns about being judged by others)-can negatively influence individuals' willingness to seek help and adhere to treatment. In addition, psychological resilience, defined as the ability to cope effectively with stress and adversity, may play an important role in how individuals experience depressive symptoms and respond to treatment.

This study aims to compare women and men diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder in terms of depression severity, gender-sensitive depressive symptoms, self-stigma, perceived social stigma, and levels of psychological resilience. It will also examine the relationships among these factors to better understand how gender-related differences influence the experience and management of depression.

Findings from this study may contribute to improved recognition of gender-specific features of depression, reduction of stigma, and the development of more individualized and effective mental health interventions for both women and men.

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Key information

Conditions

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) Behavior Depressive Disorder Depressive Disorder, Major Gender Differences Mental Disorders Mood Disorders Resilience, Psychological Self Stigma Social Behavior Social Stigma

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

the Department of Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic at Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine

Eskişehir, 26040, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location status: Recruiting

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Male and female patients aged 18 to 65 years
  • Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder according to DSM-5 at the time of study participation
  • Provision of voluntary informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • Intellectual disability
  • Severe neurological disorders
  • Comorbid psychiatric diagnoses
  • Depressive disorder secondary to an organic medical condition
  • Depressive disorder secondary to substance use

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. Depression Severity

    Time frame: Baseline (single assessment)

    Depression severity will be assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The Beck Depression Inventory is a 4-point Likert-type scale consisting of 21 items. Each item is rated on a scale of 0 to 3, and the total possible score ranges from 0 to 63. Higher scores indicate a greater severity of depressive symptoms.

  2. Gender Differences in Gender-Sensitive Depressive Symptoms

    Time frame: Baseline (single assessment)

    Gender-sensitive depressive symptom severity will be assessed using the Gender-Sensitive Depression Scale, a 24-item, four-point Likert-type instrument. Each item is rated on a four-point scale with response options ranging from 0 to 3: "Never or rarely," "Sometimes," "Often," and "Always." The scale comprises the subdimensions of Dysphoria-Irritability, Impulsivity-Shame, and Alcohol Use. Higher scores indicate greater severity of depressive symptoms.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Self-Stigma in Depression

    Time frame: Baseline (single assessment)

    Self-stigma will be assessed using the Self-Stigma of Depression Scale, a 15-item, five-point Likert-type instrument that measures individuals' self-stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors. One of the 16 items in the original scale was removed during the Turkish validity and reliability study to improve cultural and psychometric appropriateness; therefore, the 15-item version will be used. Each item is rated on a five-point scale ranging from "Strongly disagree" to "Strongly agree," with response options scored from 1 to 5. The total score ranges from 15 to 75, with higher scores indicating greater levels of self-stigma.

  2. Perceived Social Stigma Related to Seeking Psychological Help

    Time frame: Baseline (single assessment)

    Perceived social stigma will be assessed using the Stigma Scale for Receiving Professional Psychological Help. The scale consists of five items. Each item is rated on a four-point scale ranging from "Strongly disagree" to "Strongly agree." The total score ranges from 1 to 20. Higher scores indicate a higher level of perceived social stigma associated with seeking psychological help.

  3. Psychological Resilience

    Time frame: Baseline (single assessment)

    Psychological resilience will be assessed using the Resilience Scale for Adults, a 32-item, five-point Likert-type instrument. Each item is rated on a five-point scale ranging from "Strongly disagree" to "Strongly agree," with response options scored from 1 to 5. The total score ranges from 32 to 160. The scale does not have a cutoff score, and interpretation of the total score is left to the discretion of the researcher. When higher scores are intended to indicate greater psychological resilience, responses are scored from left to right as 1-2-3-4-5. The scale also includes reverse-scored items.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

HARUN O SONKURT, Asst. Prof.

CONTACT

[email protected]

+90 0222 239 29 79 ext. 3600

İrem OZKAYNAK DAGLİ, Research assistant, M.D.

CONTACT

[email protected]

+90 0222 239 29 79 ext. 3600

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Eskisehir Osmangazi University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

A Comparative Examination of Depression Severity, Gender-Sensitive Depressive Symptoms, Psychological Resilience, and Stigma Levels in Women and Men With Major Depressive Disorder

Acronym: GD-GSS-R-S-MDD

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Mar 16, 2026
Registry last updated
Mar 25, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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