Recruitment for the project has been completed.

Women are diagnosed with depression about twice as often as men. However, men are also frequently affected by this illness. However, the symptoms are less frequently recognised in men and are therefore often treated too late or not at all.

This is partly due to the fact that symptoms of depression can manifest themselves differently in men than in women, and partly because men tend to conceal the signs of depression.

Nevertheless, men also have very different attitudes towards mental health and depression, as well as different ways of dealing with it. To date, there has been little research into how depression in men can be better recognised and treated.

The study is funded by the German Research Foundation (project number 288917560).

In the study, we want to investigate the gender-related characteristics of men's experiences of depression. This will lay the foundations for the development of gender-equitable psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care that meets the needs of men.

As part of our study, we would like to investigate whether men's professional and health-related attitudes change during the course of depression treatment. To this end, around 300 male patients will be interviewed about how they experience their illness and the significance of their gender role. We want to find out what is important and helpful for men in dealing with their illness, what support they experience and what role job-related attitudes play. In addition, from December 2023, partners will also be surveyed regarding their views on the situation and needs of men with depressive disorders (or burnout). We are interested in how partners of men with depression experience the illness and possible effects, particularly with regard to the couple relationship, family life and social environment.

The participants receive an online-based questionnaire at four measurement points, each at six-month intervals. The six-month interval enables us to record short-, medium- and long-term changes in masculinity- and work-related orientations in the context of psychiatric treatment. There is an expense allowance of €10 per completed questionnaire, i.e. up to €40 for full participation.

In addition to the online surveys, individual participants will be contacted to see if they would be willing to talk about their views on the disease and how they deal with it in approximately one-hour interviews. The interviews will take place via video call and will be remunerated with an expense allowance of €30. However, participation in the study is also possible regardless of willingness to participate in the interviews.

The prerequisites are treatment for depression and an age between 18 and 65 years. If these criteria apply to you, we would be very pleased if you took part in the study.

If you would like to receive information about the study, please contact us directly by phone: 0173 - 34 62 150 or e-mail: transmode@uni-ulm.de.

1. Krumm, S., Krieg, G., Lamp, N. et al. The transformation of masculinity orientations and work-related attitudes in men treated for depression (TRANSMODE): study protocol for a mixed-methods observational study. BMC Psychiatry23, 492 (2023). doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04979-3