Women and men: alike or so different?

1. Who is under-diagnosed during a medical exam when it comes to symptoms related to mental health diseases?

• Men

  Right answer!
  

  Women are over-diagnosed, while men are under-diagnosed when it comes to mental illness. Several factors explain this phenomenon. First, women are more likely to seek help in case of psychological distress. Second, it is  more accepted by society if a women seeks help from a professional than a man. Third, stereotypes that women tend to be sicker than men and are in control of their lives, contribute to gender bias.  Therefore, as a relative or  health professional it is important to keep an eye open as women often report more psychological symptoms (crying, depression) while men are more likely to report physical symptoms (stomach-ache, sleep problems).

• Women

  Correct answer : MEN

  Women are over-diagnosed, while men are under-diagnosed when it comes to mental illness. Several factors explain this phenomenon. First, women are more likely to seek help in case of psychological distress. Second, it is  more accepted by society if a women seeks help from a professional than a man. Third, stereotypes that women tend to be sicker than men and are in control of their lives, contribute to gender bias.  Therefore, as a relative or  health professional it is important to keep an eye open as women often report more psychological symptoms (crying, depression) while men are more likely to report physical symptoms (stomach-ache, sleep problems).

2. To whom are the majority of antipsychotic pills prescribed?

• Men

  Correct answer : WOMEN 

  The factors mentioned in question #1 influence the diagnosis and, as a result, medication intake. Therefore, the majority of antipsychotic drug prescriptions are for women.  Thus, women are more likely to abuse this medication and develop a dependency.

• Women

  Right answer!
  

  The factors mentioned in question #1 influence the diagnosis and, as a result, medication intake. Therefore, the majority of antipsychotic drug prescriptions are for women.  Thus, women are more likely to abuse this medication and develop a dependency.

3. After a traumatic event, whom is more likely to develop post-traumatic stress?

• Men

  Correct answer : WOMEN 

  Contrary to what one might think, women are at greater risk of developing post-traumatic stress following exposure to a traumatic event, compared to men. It is true that men are more exposed to traumatic events than women, but the vulnerability following exposure is greater in women.

• Women

  Right answer!
  

  Contrary to what one might think, women are at greater risk of developing post-traumatic stress following exposure to a traumatic event, compared to men. It is true that men are more exposed to traumatic events than women, but the vulnerability following exposure is greater in women.

4. Who is most at risk of attempting suicide?

• Men

  Correct answer : WOMEN 

  In fact, there are more suicides committed by men than by women. However, women are more likely to attempt suicide than men. We often hear of statistics that show men with the highest suicide rates. We certainly must not ignore this, but we must also not neglect the distress experienced by women, which is reflected by the high rate of attempted suicide.

• Women

  Right answer!
  

  In fact, there are more suicides committed by men than by women. However, women are more likely to attempt suicide than men. We often hear of statistics that show men with the highest suicide rates. We certainly must not ignore this, but we must also not neglect the distress experienced by women, which is reflected by the high rate of attempted suicide.

5. Who is more likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease?

• Men

  Correct answer : WOMEN
  

  Indeed, women are twice more at risk because, contrary to men, they stop producing estrogen during menopause. Estrogen has a protective effect on the brain and it would be its withdrawal that would cause a greater vulnerability in women facing the degeneration of brain regions associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

• Women

  Right answer!
  

  Indeed, women are twice more at risk because, contrary to men, they stop producing estrogen during menopause. Estrogen has a protective effect on the brain and it would be its withdrawal that would cause a greater vulnerability in women facing the degeneration of brain regions associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

6. Are mental health services used mostly by men or women?

• Men

  Correct answer : WOMEN 

  Women are three times more likely than men to use mental health services. However, this inequality between men and women declines significantly among those who are less “embedded” in society.  The social roots corresponds to the social roles a person occupies in society, for example, be a parent, spouse, worker. These different roles we occupy in society exposes us to different norms, realities and values. So we’ll consider that a person is less socially rooted if, for example she is in school, unmarried and childless.  In this case, men and women are both likely to use mental health services.  However, in the case of a married couple with good jobs and parents of two children, the women becomes more likely to use mental health services than men.

• Women

  Right answer!
  

  Women are three times more likely than men to use mental health services. However, this inequality between men and women declines significantly among those who are less “embedded” in society.  The social roots corresponds to the social roles a person occupies in society, for example, be a parent, spouse, worker. These different roles we occupy in society exposes us to different norms, realities and values. So we’ll consider that a person is less socially rooted if, for example she is in school, unmarried and childless.  In this case, men and women are both likely to use mental health services.  However, in the case of a married couple with good jobs and parents of two children, the women becomes more likely to use mental health services than men.

7. Who is more prejudice about people suffering from depression?

• Men

  Right answer!
  

  Men have a greater stigmatizing attitude toward people suffering from depression, than women. A Canadian study conducted with 3,047 people indicates that more than 45% of participants felt that people with depression are unpredictable and over 20% reported that these people are dangerous. There are still too many prejudices against depression and mental illness. We must all help to eliminate these misconceptions as it can affect any of your relatives or even yourself.

• Women

  Correct answer : MEN 

  Men have a greater stigmatizing attitude toward people suffering from depression, than women. A Canadian study conducted with 3,047 people indicates that more than 45% of participants felt that people with depression are unpredictable and over 20% reported that these people are dangerous. There are still too many prejudices against depression and mental illness. We must all help to eliminate these misconceptions as it can affect any of your relatives or even yourself.

8. Who feels more stressed at work?

• Men

  Correct answer : WOMEN 

  In general, women report more job stress than men. In addition, men recover more easily than women after work. However, according to a recent study, Canadian men are more at risk of developing a major depression than women in the work place if the demands are high and if they have no sense of control over the situation.

• Women

  Right answer!
  

  In general, women report more job stress than men. In addition, men recover more easily than women after work. However, according to a recent study, Canadian men are more at risk of developing a major depression than women in the work place if the demands are high and if they have no sense of control over the situation.

9. Who is more at risk of developing schizophrenia?

• Men

  Answer: MEN AND WOMEN 

  Men and women are equally at risk of developing schizophrenia. However, there are gender differences, specifically with regards to the age of onset of the first symptoms. These usually appear 3 to 4 years later in women. In general, the period of the first onset of symptoms is around late adolescence/ early adulthood. At this time, more men than women are diagnosed with schizophrenia. Interestingly, women are more at risk of developing the disease after menopause.

• Women

  Answer: MEN AND WOMEN 

  Men and women are equally at risk of developing schizophrenia. However, there are gender differences, specifically with regards to the age of onset of the first symptoms. These usually appear 3 to 4 years later in women. In general, the period of the first onset of symptoms is around late adolescence/ early adulthood. At this time, more men than women are diagnosed with schizophrenia. Interestingly, women are more at risk of developing the disease after menopause.

10. Who is more at risk of suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder?

• Men

  Answer: MEN AND WOMEN

  Obsessive-compulsive disorder and social phobia are the only anxiety disorders that have the same prevalence in men and women. Nevertheless, there are still a few differences in relation to the type of compulsive behavior. Women usually tend to do compulsive cleaning (ex. dusting, mopping floors, laundry, etc.). The most common compulsion among men is expressed through ritual control (ex. counting to one thousand or else someone will die, repeatedly counting the number of tiles in a room of their house, etc.).

  With regard to other anxiety disorders (ex. specific phobias, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder), they are still more prevalent among women up to a ratio of 4:1 for certain disorders.

  Obsessions are intrusive thoughts or intrusive images that repeatedly appear and are very difficult to expel from the mind. Obsessions can generate a lot of distress, fear, uneasiness or aversion. To try to get rid of these obsessions, the person usually feels compelled to perform repetitive actions called compulsions.

• Women

  Answer: MEN AND WOMEN
  

  Obsessive-compulsive disorder and social phobia are the only anxiety disorders that have the same prevalence in men and women. Nevertheless, there are still a few differences in relation to the type of compulsive behavior. Women usually tend to do compulsive cleaning (ex. dusting, mopping floors, laundry, etc.). The most common compulsion among men is expressed through ritual control (ex. counting to one thousand or else someone will die, repeatedly counting the number of tiles in a room of their house, etc.).

  With regard to other anxiety disorders (ex. specific phobias, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder), they are still more prevalent among women up to a ratio of 4:1 for certain disorders.

  Obsessions are intrusive thoughts or intrusive images that repeatedly appear and are very difficult to expel from the mind. Obsessions can generate a lot of distress, fear, uneasiness or aversion. To try to get rid of these obsessions, the person usually feels compelled to perform repetitive actions called compulsions.