Men at middle-age are susceptible to depression. According to recent research, 60 percent of those who experience depression do so at middle age. Depression in middle-age men may sometimes be difficult to spot, so it's important to know its signs and symptoms.
Common Signs
When men reach the middle-age, they've reached a true turning point in their life. Men in middle-age may find many changes in thought and in life. These can subconsciously provoke symptoms of depression. Such signs include prolonged sadness, an increase in body weight, low energy, irritability, the loss in pleasure in former interests and, in extreme cases, recurring thoughts of death or suicide.
Differences from Women
Recent research shows that women in the middle-age suffer depression at about the same rate. Men, however, experience and react to depression much differently than women. A woman might avoid conflict while a man will create conflict. A woman will blame herself for problems while a man will blame others. Only about half of men with depression are properly diagnosed.
Andropause
Many researchers in medical science believe that andropause may be one cause of middle-age depression in males. A recent World Health Organization (WHO) report states that when men hit a certain age they will have a major decrease in androgen--hormones such as testosterone that influence male sex characteristics. In some cases, the drop may be down to 10 percent of what they had during their youth. The decrease in androgen may lead to a gradual decline in energy, mood and sex drive.
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