Sex differences in anxiety and depression: Role of testosterone

McHenry, Jenna A.; Carrier, Nicole; Hull, Elaine M.; Kabbaj, Mohamed

doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2013.09.001

Cited by 386 publications

(273 citation statements)

References 248 publications

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“…Female gonadal hormones, such as oestrogen and progesterone appear to have substantial effects on the functions of anxiety-related neurotransmitter systems and affect fear extinction [14,19]. Similarly, among the male gonadal hormones, testosterone has been found to have anxiolytic effects [20], possibly by reducing responsiveness to stress and suppressing activity of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis [20]. For this reason, gonadal hormones are likely to account for at least part of the increased prevalence and severity of anxiety disorders in females.…”

Section: Sex Differences In Anxietymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fluctuations in oestrogen and progesterone throughout the female menstrual cycle appear to affect HPA axis reactivity, glucocorticoid feedback sensitivity, and brain GABA connections, causing the homeostatic system to become less stable in females compared to males [17]. Such fluctuations may cause both short-term instability in females and be responsible for more long-term changes in the severity of anxiety symptoms occurring in relation to puberty, pregnancy, lactation, and menopause [17,19,20]. Support for the effects of monthly and major lifetime hormone fluctuations on anxiety in females comes from findings that self-reported changes in OCD and PD symptoms related to the female reproductive cycle and the occurrence of pregnancy and menopause have been found [10,16,17,19].…”

Section: Sex Differences In Anxietymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Examining Sex and Gender Differences in Anxiety Disorders

Christiansen¹

2015

A Fresh Look at Anxiety Disorders

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Several studies have examined sex differences in different anxiety disorders. Females are repeatedly found to be more likely than males to suffer from anxiety in general and to be diagnosed with most anxiety disorders, including agoraphobia (AG), panic disorder (PD), separation anxiety (SA), specific phobia (SP), social anxiety disorder (SAD), generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and acute and posttraumatic stress disorder (ASD and PTSD), although the latter three are technically no longer categorised as anxiety disorders according to DSM-5. This chapter provides an overview of research on sex and gender differences in anxiety disorders ranging from the well-established female preponderance in prevalence and severity to possible sex differences in the risk and protective factors associated with anxiety, sex differences in the clinical presentation of anxiety disorders, and potential sex differences in the effectiveness of different treatments. The chapter contains suggestions for future research, including important questions that remain to be answered.

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Section: Sex Differences In Anxietymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sex Differences In Anxietymentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining Sex and Gender Differences in Anxiety Disorders

Christiansen¹

2015

A Fresh Look at Anxiety Disorders

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Women are more likely to experience mood disturbances during times of hormonal flux, while testosterone may have protective benefits against anxiety and depression [32]. As a consequence, an additional triggering factor for the psychological status in female patients could be the complex interactions of hormonal diversities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Similar Psychopathological Profiles in Female and Male Cushing's Disease Patients after Treatment but Differences in the Pathogenesis of Symptoms

Milian¹,

Honegger²,

Gerlach³

et al. 2014

Neuroendocrinology

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Background: Female Cushing's disease (CD) patients with active disease present more frequently with depression compared to their male co-sufferers. This study investigated whether the gender difference prevails after remission and whether gender-specific factors contributing to mental health exist. Methods: 72biochemically cured CD patients (11 male, mean age 45.9 ± 13.7 years) who underwent transsphenoidal tumour removal filled out the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised inventory on average 42.1 ± 32.9 months after surgery. Multiple regression analyses included the following independent factors: (i) age, (ii) presence of comorbidities, (iii) presence of hypocortisolism, (iv) presence of hypopituitarism, (v) disease duration until diagnosis, (vi) time elapsed since surgery, and (vii) postoperative radiotherapy to predict postoperative psychopathology. Results: Regarding the Global Severity Index, 23.0% of the female and 27.3% of the male CD patients presented with abnormal scores. In all nine dimensions, psychopathological abnormalities were present in both female and male patients with the same frequency and intensity (each p > 0.05). Prolonged time to diagnosis was a strong predictive factor for worse psychopathological status only in male patients. Among female patients, only the presence of comorbidities and to some extent pituitary deficiencies were related to psychopathological status. Conclusions: During the remission phase of CD, female and male patients present with similar psychopathological profiles. In males, long-term biochemical effects of previous hypercortisolism seem to be salient for psychopathology. In contrast, in females, the presence of comorbidities/stressors they have to cope with is the predictive factor for psychopathology. The results underline gender differences in CD and the need to separate them on various issues.

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“…Androgens also exhibit a wide array of neuroprotective effects in motoneurons, including supporting cell survival, axonal regeneration, and dendritic maintenance [72]. Testosterone influences neuroplastic changes in nuclei of the limbic system, particularly in the amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and the hippocampus [73,74]; it exerts neuroprotective effects by stimulating neuron survival and regeneration after a nerve injury by actions mediated via the androgen receptor [75,76]. It has been observed to have a protective effect on apoptosis in cell cultures of human neurons.…”

Section: Effects Of Androgensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of the Effects of Sex Hormones on the Nervous System

Delchev¹,

Georgieva²

2018

Sex Hormones in Neurodegenerative Processes and Diseases

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The mechanisms of the action of sex steroid hormones on the nervous system are related to both classical, intracellularly mediated effects and non-classical membrane effects due to binding to membrane receptors. Some steroids are capable of inducing rapid neurotransmitter-like effects, similar to those of dopamine or glutamate that alter the activity of neuronal systems via different types of receptors. The neuroactive steroids are endogenous neuromodulators synthesized in the brain and rapidly affecting neuronal excitability. Sex steroids exert many pleiotropic effects in the nervous system: they modulate main neurotransmitter systems, promote the viability of neurons, play an important role in myelination, and influence cognitive processes. Estradiol protects neurons from excitotoxic damage and increases neuronal survival. Progesterone stimulates neurological and functional recovery. Androgens also exhibit a wide array of neuroprotective effects in motoneurons, including supporting cell survival, axonal regeneration, and dendritic maintenance. Despite the considerable increase of sex hormones and neurosteroids research in recent years and the ongoing discovery of biochemical mechanisms of action, their role in neurodegenerative processes remains not well determined.

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Sex differences in anxiety and depression: Role of testosterone

Cited by 386 publications

References 248 publications

Examining Sex and Gender Differences in Anxiety Disorders

Examining Sex and Gender Differences in Anxiety Disorders

Similar Psychopathological Profiles in Female and Male Cushing's Disease Patients after Treatment but Differences in the Pathogenesis of Symptoms

Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of the Effects of Sex Hormones on the Nervous System

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