Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)GD-GSS-R-S-MDDNCT07474363
Gender Differences in Depression Severity, Gender-Sensitive Symptoms, Resilience, and Stigma in Major Depressive Disorder
An observational study of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Gender Differences, run by Eskisehir Osmangazi University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Depression is a common and serious mental health condition that affects mood, thoughts, behavior, and overall quality of life. It arises from a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Gender Differences, Resilience, Psychological
- How many people
- 90 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Jun 2025to Nov 2026
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Patients who presented to the Department of Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic at Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine.
Who may be able to join
- Male and female patients aged 18 to 65 years
- Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder according to DSM-5 at the time of study participation
- Provision of voluntary informed consent
Who cannot join
- Intellectual disability
- Severe neurological disorders
- Comorbid psychiatric diagnoses
- Depressive disorder secondary to an organic medical condition
- Depressive disorder secondary to substance use
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
İrem OZKAYNAK DAGLİ, Research assistant, M.D. contact
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
the Department of Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic at Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine
Eskişehir, Eskişehir, 26040
About this study
Official title: A Comparative Examination of Depression Severity, Gender-Sensitive Depressive Symptoms, Psychological Resilience, and Stigma Levels in Women and Men With Major Depressive Disorder
Depression is a common and serious mental health condition that affects mood, thoughts, behavior, and overall quality of life. It arises from a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. While depression is more frequently diagnosed in women, research suggests that men may experience and express depressive symptoms differently. Men are more likely to display symptoms such as irritability, anger, impulsivity, or increased alcohol use, and they may be less likely to seek professional psychological support due to social expectations and fear of stigma.
Stigma-both self-stigma (internalized negative beliefs about having a mental illness) and perceived social stigma (concerns about being judged by others)-can negatively influence individuals' willingness to seek help and adhere to treatment. In addition, psychological resilience, defined as the ability to cope effectively with stress and adversity, may play an important role in how individuals experience depressive symptoms and respond to treatment.
Read more
This study aims to compare women and men diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder in terms of depression severity, gender-sensitive depressive symptoms, self-stigma, perceived social stigma, and levels of psychological resilience. It will also examine the relationships among these factors to better understand how gender-related differences influence the experience and management of depression.
Findings from this study may contribute to improved recognition of gender-specific features of depression, reduction of stigma, and the development of more individualized and effective mental health interventions for both women and men.
- Conditions
- Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Gender Differences, Resilience, Psychological, Self Stigma, Social Stigma
- Medical subject headings
- Depressive Disorder, Major, Social Stigma
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Women | Female patients aged 18-65 years who were diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and presented to the Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic of Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine | |
| Men | Male patients aged 18-65 years who were diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and presented to the Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic of Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Depression Severity
Depression severity will be assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The Beck Depression Inventory is a 4-point Likert-type scale consisting of 21 items. Each item is rated on a scale of 0 to 3, and the total possible score ranges from 0 to 63. Higher scores indicate a greater severity of depressive symptoms.
Measured: Baseline (single assessment)
Gender Differences in Gender-Sensitive Depressive Symptoms
Gender-sensitive depressive symptom severity will be assessed using the Gender-Sensitive Depression Scale, a 24-item, four-point Likert-type instrument. Each item is rated on a four-point scale with response options ranging from 0 to 3: "Never or rarely," "Sometimes," "Often," and "Always." The scale comprises the subdimensions of Dysphoria-Irritability, Impulsivity-Shame, and Alcohol Use. Higher scores indicate greater severity of depressive symptoms.
Measured: Baseline (single assessment)
Secondary outcomes (3)
Self-Stigma in Depression
Self-stigma will be assessed using the Self-Stigma of Depression Scale, a 15-item, five-point Likert-type instrument that measures individuals' self-stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors. One of the 16 items in the original scale was removed during the Turkish validity and reliability study to improve cultural and psychometric appropriateness; therefore, the 15-item version will be used. Each item is rated on a five-point scale ranging from "Strongly disagree" to "Strongly agree," with response options scored from 1 to 5. The total score ranges from 15 to 75, with higher scores indicating greater levels of self-stigma.
Measured: Baseline (single assessment)
Perceived Social Stigma Related to Seeking Psychological Help
Perceived social stigma will be assessed using the Stigma Scale for Receiving Professional Psychological Help. The scale consists of five items. Each item is rated on a four-point scale ranging from "Strongly disagree" to "Strongly agree." The total score ranges from 1 to 20. Higher scores indicate a higher level of perceived social stigma associated with seeking psychological help.
Measured: Baseline (single assessment)
Psychological Resilience
Psychological resilience will be assessed using the Resilience Scale for Adults, a 32-item, five-point Likert-type instrument. Each item is rated on a five-point scale ranging from "Strongly disagree" to "Strongly agree," with response options scored from 1 to 5. The total score ranges from 32 to 160. The scale does not have a cutoff score, and interpretation of the total score is left to the discretion of the researcher. When higher scores are intended to indicate greater psychological resilience, responses are scored from left to right as 1-2-3-4-5. The scale also includes reverse-scored items.
Measured: Baseline (single assessment)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Mar 2026
- Study start1 Jun 2025
- Primary completionApr 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionNov 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case only
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 90 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Eskisehir Osmangazi University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Harun Olcay Sonkurt, Eskisehir Osmangazi University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07474363
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2025 - 166 / 14
- Acronym
- GD-GSS-R-S-MDD
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 11 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 25 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: De-identified individual participant data collected in the study will be shared. This will include demographic variables (e.g., age, gender, education level, marital status), clinical variables related to Major Depressive Disorder, and scale scores obtained from the study instruments. Specifically, the dataset will contain participants' scores on depression severity measures, gender-sensitive depression symptom scales, psychological resilience scales, and stigma measures used in the study. All shared data will be anonymized and will not include any information that could directly identify individual participants.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 25 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Comparative Examination of Depression Severity, Gender-Sensitive Depressive Symptoms, Psychological Resilience, and Stigma Levels in Women and Men With Major Depressive Disorder
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07474363
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- GD-GSS-R-S-MDD / 2025 - 166 / 14
- Conditions
- Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Gender Differences, Resilience, Psychological, Self Stigma, Social Stigma
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 90 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Eskisehir Osmangazi UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Nov 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 16 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Depression is a common and serious mental health condition that affects mood, thoughts, behavior, and overall quality of life. It arises from a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. While depression is more frequently diagnosed in women, research suggests that men may experience and express depressive symptoms differently. Men are more likely to display symptoms such as irritability, anger, impulsivity, or increased alcohol use, and they may be less likely to seek professional psychological support due to social expectations and fear of stigma.
Stigma-both self-stigma (internalized negative beliefs about having a mental illness) and perceived social stigma (concerns about being judged by others)-can negatively influence individuals' willingness to seek help and adhere to treatment. In addition, psychological resilience, defined as the ability to cope effectively with stress and adversity, may play an important role in how individuals experience depressive symptoms and respond to treatment.
This study aims to compare women and men diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder in terms of depression severity, gender-sensitive depressive symptoms, self-stigma, perceived social stigma, and levels of psychological resilience. It will also examine the relationships among these factors to better understand how gender-related differences influence the experience and management of depression.
Findings from this study may contribute to improved recognition of gender-specific features of depression, reduction of stigma, and the development of more individualized and effective mental health interventions for both women and men.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case only
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Women | – | –Female patients aged 18-65 years who were diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and presented to the Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic of Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine |
| Men | – | –Male patients aged 18-65 years who were diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and presented to the Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic of Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Patients who presented to the Department of Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic at Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine.
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Male and female patients aged 18 to 65 years
- Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder according to DSM-5 at the time of study participation
- Provision of voluntary informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Intellectual disability
- Severe neurological disorders
- Comorbid psychiatric diagnoses
- Depressive disorder secondary to an organic medical condition
- Depressive disorder secondary to substance use
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Depression Severity
Time frame: Baseline (single assessment)
Depression severity will be assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The Beck Depression Inventory is a 4-point Likert-type scale consisting of 21 items. Each item is rated on a scale of 0 to 3, and the total possible score ranges from 0 to 63. Higher scores indicate a greater severity of depressive symptoms.
Gender Differences in Gender-Sensitive Depressive Symptoms
Time frame: Baseline (single assessment)
Gender-sensitive depressive symptom severity will be assessed using the Gender-Sensitive Depression Scale, a 24-item, four-point Likert-type instrument. Each item is rated on a four-point scale with response options ranging from 0 to 3: "Never or rarely," "Sometimes," "Often," and "Always." The scale comprises the subdimensions of Dysphoria-Irritability, Impulsivity-Shame, and Alcohol Use. Higher scores indicate greater severity of depressive symptoms.
3 secondary outcomes
Self-Stigma in Depression
Time frame: Baseline (single assessment)
Perceived Social Stigma Related to Seeking Psychological Help
Time frame: Baseline (single assessment)
Psychological Resilience
Time frame: Baseline (single assessment)
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 25 Mar 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. De-identified individual participant data collected in the study will be shared. This will include demographic variables (e.g., age, gender, education level, marital status), clinical variables related to Major Depressive Disorder, and scale scores obtained from the study instruments. Specifically, the dataset will contain participants' scores on depression severity measures, gender-sensitive depression symptom scales, psychological resilience scales, and stigma measures used in the study. All shared data will be anonymized and will not include any information that could directly identify individual participants.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
İrem OZKAYNAK DAGLİ, Research assistant, M.D. contact
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Gender Differences, run by Eskisehir Osmangazi University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 25 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact İrem OZKAYNAK DAGLİ, Research assistant, M.D. (+90 0222 239 29 79 ext. 3600, irem.ozkaynak@ogu.edu.tr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Depression Severity (time frame: Baseline (single assessment)). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 25 Mar 2026.