Symptom Differences by Gender for Outpatient Clients as Measured by the SCL-90-R

Symptom Differences by Gender for Outpatient Clients as Measured by the SCL-90-R Researchers have discussed, postulated, and identified several mental health and general personality characteristic differences between the genders (Breslau & Anthony, 2007; Else-Quest, Hyde, Goldsmith, & Van Hulle, 2006; Gentile et al., 2009; Harkness et al., 2010; O'Hare 1995; Nordentoft & Branner, 2008), with most studies indicating that females have a higher prevalence of mood disorders than men (Eaton et al., 2011). While gender differences specific to various domains have been found across several populations, there are few studies that have attempted to examine gender differences across multiple domains of psychopathology in outpatient community mental health populations. Specifically, there is limited research that has attempted to determine whether or not male and female outpatient clients significantly differ in regard to the presence and severity of common psychopathological symptoms and how participant cooperation in assessment may skew data and subsequent analysis. Several studies have found that gender differences are evident across various psychopathologies and personality features. Some of these studies have demonstrated low to moderate etiological and epidemiological differences between men and women (Gentile et al., 2009; Hovanitz & Kozora, 1989; Kessler, 2003; Nordentoft & Branner, 2008). Some of these findings indicated that women are at a greater risk for developing various disorders, and for specific disorders, demonstrated significantly higher prevalence (Breslau & Anthony, 2007; Eaton et al., 2011; Olff et al., 2007). The gender differences research encompasses a variety of psychopathologies with subtleties in presentation of these disorders as well as their etiologies. Gender differences have been researched in domains such as self-esteem (Gentile et al., 2009), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Breslau & Anthony, 2007; Olff et al., 2007), temperament (Else-Quest et al., 2006), major depressive disorder (MDD; Harkness et al., 2010; Hiott et al., 2006), co-occurring disorders (O'Hare, 1995), suicidality (Nordentoft & Branner, 2008), as well as several other characteristics. While several disorders that indicate major gender differences have been clearly identified in the research (e.g., depression; Harkness et al., 2010; Kessler, 2003), some of the disorders indicate only mild to moderate differences between genders including (a) suicidality (Harriss, Hawton, & Zahl, 2005; Hawton, 2000), (b) PTSD (Breslau & Anthony, 2007; Olff et al., 2007; Perkonigg, Kessler, Storz, & Wittchen, 2000), (c) Borderline Personality Disorder (Kaehler & Freyd, 2011, Levy, 2005), and (d) co-occurring disorders (Helzer & Pryzbeck, 1988; Wilsnack & Wilsnack, 1991). While several studies related to gender differences and pathology have been useful, some findings lack practical applicability to mental health clinicians who seek methods and techniques to appropriately address cultural and pathological differences between men and women. Studies directly tied to the pathology and symptomatology differences between the genders appear to offer the most value to the practicing mental health clinician. Suicidality and Depression One of the more serious issues facing mental health clients and treatment professionals is suicidality. Clear gender differences have been identified in this domain and a paradox has been identified. Specifically, more men commit suicide but more women attempt suicide (Hawton, 2000). Low suicidal intent has been found to be positively correlated with a low risk of repeated suicide attempts in women, whereas a low suicidal intent for men appears to be associated with a higher risk for future suicide attempts (Harriss, Hawton, & Zahl, 2005). In a 2008 study of suicide attempters (n = 351), Nordentoft and Branner found that women who attempted suicide had less suicidal intention, lower self-esteem, and higher depression levels than their male counterparts. …