Mental health professionals view about the impact of male gender for the treatment of men with depression - a qualitative study
Abstract Background The underestimation of depression among men may result from atypical depression symptoms and male help-seeking behaviour. However, higher suicide rates among men than among women indicate a need for gender-specific services for men with depression. In order to develop gender-spec...
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2020-06-01
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Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
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Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-020-02686-x |
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Article |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Maja Stiawa Annabel Müller-Stierlin Tobias Staiger Reinhold Kilian Thomas Becker Harald Gündel Petra Beschoner Achim Grinschgl Karel Frasch Max Schmauß Maria Panzirsch Lea Mayer Elisa Sittenberger Silvia Krumm |
spellingShingle |
Maja Stiawa Annabel Müller-Stierlin Tobias Staiger Reinhold Kilian Thomas Becker Harald Gündel Petra Beschoner Achim Grinschgl Karel Frasch Max Schmauß Maria Panzirsch Lea Mayer Elisa Sittenberger Silvia Krumm Mental health professionals view about the impact of male gender for the treatment of men with depression - a qualitative study BMC Psychiatry Depression Men’s depression Qualitative research Subjective view Masculinity |
author_facet |
Maja Stiawa Annabel Müller-Stierlin Tobias Staiger Reinhold Kilian Thomas Becker Harald Gündel Petra Beschoner Achim Grinschgl Karel Frasch Max Schmauß Maria Panzirsch Lea Mayer Elisa Sittenberger Silvia Krumm |
author_sort |
Maja Stiawa |
title |
Mental health professionals view about the impact of male gender for the treatment of men with depression - a qualitative study |
title_short |
Mental health professionals view about the impact of male gender for the treatment of men with depression - a qualitative study |
title_full |
Mental health professionals view about the impact of male gender for the treatment of men with depression - a qualitative study |
title_fullStr |
Mental health professionals view about the impact of male gender for the treatment of men with depression - a qualitative study |
title_full_unstemmed |
Mental health professionals view about the impact of male gender for the treatment of men with depression - a qualitative study |
title_sort |
mental health professionals view about the impact of male gender for the treatment of men with depression - a qualitative study |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
BMC Psychiatry |
issn |
1471-244X |
publishDate |
2020-06-01 |
description |
Abstract Background The underestimation of depression among men may result from atypical depression symptoms and male help-seeking behaviour. However, higher suicide rates among men than among women indicate a need for gender-specific services for men with depression. In order to develop gender-specific services, it is essential to examine professionals’ attitudes towards men’s depressive symptoms and treatment needs as well as barriers to and facilitators of treatment. This study examined gender-specific treatment needs in male patients and treatment approaches to male patients from a professional perspective. Methods Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with 33 mental health professionals (MHPs) from five German psychiatric institutions. The study assessed the characteristics and attributes of male patients with depression risk factors for the development of depression among men, their condition at the beginning of treatment, male patients’ depressive symptoms, the needs and expectations of male patients, the importance of social networks in a mental health context, and MHPs’ treatment aims and treatment methods. Transcripts were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results The professionals’ reference group of male patients were men who were characterised in accordance with traditional masculinity. Attributes reported as in line with this type of men were late initiations of inpatient treatment after crisis, suicidal ideation or attempted suicide, and high expectations towards treatment duration, success rate in recovery and therapeutic sessions. In contrast, male patients who deviate from these patterns were partially described with reference to female stereotypes. Professionals referred to psychosocial models in their explanations of the causes of depression and provided sociological explanations for the development of masculine ideals among men. The consequences of these for treatment were discussed against the background of normative expectations regarding the male gender. From the professionals’ point of view, psychoeducation and the acceptance of depression (as a widespread mental illness) were the most important goals in mental health treatment. Conclusions In order to improve mental health among men, gender-specific services should be offered. Awareness of the role of gender and its implications on mental health treatment should be an integral part of MHPs’ education and their daily implementation of mental health treatment practices. |
topic |
Depression Men’s depression Qualitative research Subjective view Masculinity |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-020-02686-x |
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doaj-25ea3a5faf6a4d61802205ea07ab9cfc2020-11-25T03:16:52ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2020-06-0120111310.1186/s12888-020-02686-xMental health professionals view about the impact of male gender for the treatment of men with depression - a qualitative studyMaja Stiawa0Annabel Müller-Stierlin1Tobias Staiger2Reinhold Kilian3Thomas Becker4Harald Gündel5Petra Beschoner6Achim Grinschgl7Karel Frasch8Max Schmauß9Maria Panzirsch10Lea Mayer11Elisa Sittenberger12Silvia Krumm13Department for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy II, Ulm University at BKH GuenzburgDepartment for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy II, Ulm University at BKH GuenzburgDepartment for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy II, Ulm University at BKH GuenzburgDepartment for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy II, Ulm University at BKH GuenzburgDepartment for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy II, Ulm University at BKH GuenzburgDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm UniversityDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm UniversityDepartment for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Günztalklinik AllgäuDepartment for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy II, Ulm University at BKH GuenzburgDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Augsburg UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, BKH DonauwörthDepartment for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy II, Ulm University at BKH GuenzburgDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy III, Ulm UniversityDepartment for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy II, Ulm University at BKH GuenzburgAbstract Background The underestimation of depression among men may result from atypical depression symptoms and male help-seeking behaviour. However, higher suicide rates among men than among women indicate a need for gender-specific services for men with depression. In order to develop gender-specific services, it is essential to examine professionals’ attitudes towards men’s depressive symptoms and treatment needs as well as barriers to and facilitators of treatment. This study examined gender-specific treatment needs in male patients and treatment approaches to male patients from a professional perspective. Methods Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with 33 mental health professionals (MHPs) from five German psychiatric institutions. The study assessed the characteristics and attributes of male patients with depression risk factors for the development of depression among men, their condition at the beginning of treatment, male patients’ depressive symptoms, the needs and expectations of male patients, the importance of social networks in a mental health context, and MHPs’ treatment aims and treatment methods. Transcripts were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results The professionals’ reference group of male patients were men who were characterised in accordance with traditional masculinity. Attributes reported as in line with this type of men were late initiations of inpatient treatment after crisis, suicidal ideation or attempted suicide, and high expectations towards treatment duration, success rate in recovery and therapeutic sessions. In contrast, male patients who deviate from these patterns were partially described with reference to female stereotypes. Professionals referred to psychosocial models in their explanations of the causes of depression and provided sociological explanations for the development of masculine ideals among men. The consequences of these for treatment were discussed against the background of normative expectations regarding the male gender. From the professionals’ point of view, psychoeducation and the acceptance of depression (as a widespread mental illness) were the most important goals in mental health treatment. Conclusions In order to improve mental health among men, gender-specific services should be offered. Awareness of the role of gender and its implications on mental health treatment should be an integral part of MHPs’ education and their daily implementation of mental health treatment practices.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-020-02686-xDepressionMen’s depressionQualitative researchSubjective viewMasculinity |