Readers react to depression in boys and clever ants

Diagnosing depression

Traditional screening tools for depression focus on internalizing symptoms, including feelings of hopelessness and sadness. Such surveys may miss depression in boys and men, which more often manifests externally as anger and aggression, irritability and risk-taking, Sujata Gupta reported in “The boys are not OK” (SN: 7/1/23, p. 18).

The Male Depression Risk Scale screens for these and other signs of depression, Gupta reported. In a 2020 study, 11 percent of 1,000 Canadian men met the depression criteria on this scale but not on more traditional scales. Reader Tom Harrison asked if standard scales could also miss depression in girls and women.