No more than half of those who try a given antidepressant report improvement. It's important for these people to work with their doctor to find the right drug to relieve their depression. All of the antidepressants work. Along the way, patients can cope with their depression using psychotherapy and they may experience side effects ranging from a loss of sex drive to flatulence. Coming to terms with depression can be doubly difficult for men because their upbringing often encourages them to hide or deny emotional problems.
Men are also less likely to seek medical care than women.
An accompanying story says that anger, alcoholism and domestic violence may be signs of masked depression in men. Ninety percent of men and women who are treated for depression report substantial relief.