A preponderance of anecdotal evidence suggests that men manifest depression differently than women and that this atypical symptom presentation is even more evident in men who adhere to restrictive masculine norms (Cochran & Rabinowitz, 2000;Real, 1997). The aim of this study was to develop a self-report assessment instrument, the Masculine Depression Scale (MDS), which captures these atypical symptoms of depression. One hundred and two men who experienced a recent stressful life event were asked to complete measures of prototypic depression, masculine norm conformity, and our measure of masculine depression. Factor analyses yielded a two-factor solution: internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Externalizing symptoms were moderately correlated with measures of depression and masculine norm adherence, while internalizing symptoms were highly correlated with measures of depression but unrelated to masculine norm adherence. Men who adhered strongly to masculine norms were more likely to endorse externalizing symptoms on the MDS than prototypic symptoms of depression. The findings suggest that the MDS may be capturing aspects of depression associated with masculine gender socialization that are not captured by existing measures.

The aim of this study was to test the theoretical assumption that individuals adhering to proscriptive masculine roles may be more likely to have negative perceptions of mental health problems, which may lower their likelihood of help seeking (M. E. Addis & J. R. Mahalik, 2003). Participants were 120 undergraduate students who completed measures assessing negative perceptions (nonnormativeness and self-stigma) of alcohol abuse and depression and adherence to proscriptive gender roles. Both men and women who endorsed experiences and beliefs associated with proscriptive masculine gender roles were more likely to perceive problems negatively. Alcohol abuse was seen as more self-stigmatizing than depression, but no mean differences emerged in perceptions of normativeness. Findings have implications for the development of gendersensitive interventions aimed at facilitating help seeking.

The objective of this study was to assess tic persistence and tic-associated impairment in referred youth with Tourette's Disorder (TD). Subjects were 50 youth (ages 6-17 years) who met DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for TD, were referred to a specialized TD program, and were evaluated by clinical and structured diagnostic interview. Tic severity and impairment was measured using the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale. The total tic score at or above minimal range defined tic persistence, and a TD impairment score at or above moderate range defined tic-associated impairment. Results were assessed during administration of the Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Epidemiological Version. Mean age of onset of TD was 5.1 +/- 2.3 years, and mean illness duration was 5.6 +/- 3.2 years. At baseline, 88% of subjects met threshold criteria for at least mild tics, but only 30% met criteria for tic-associated impairment. At 2-year follow-up, 82% of these subjects met criteria for tic persistence (NS change from baseline), but only 14% met criteria for TD-associated impairment (p < .04 change from baseline). Although tics followed a persistent course in the majority of youth with TD, they were infrequently associated with impairment. There was a significant reduction in the proportion of youth with TD impairment from baseline to follow-up. These results support the view that TD is a persistent disorder, but suggest a dissociation between tic persistence and tic-associated dysfunction.

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