Dikobe, A.M.Van Staden, C.W. (Werdie)Reif, SimonBornman, Maria S. (Riana)2007-12-192007-12-192007-08Dikobe, AM, Van Staden, CW, Reif, S & Bornman, M 2007, 'Deficient testosterone levels in men above 45 years with major depressive disorder - an age-matched case control study', South African Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 96-100. [http://www.hmpg.co.za/journaldetail.php?journalno=4]1608-9685http://hdl.handle.net/2263/4124BACKGROUND: Symptoms of partial androgen deficiency in ageing men (PADAM) overlap considerably with those of major depressive disorder. The relationship between these conditions is complicated by the usual age-related decline in serum testosterone concentrations. OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that depressed men above 45 years of age have lower serum testosterone concentrations than age-matched controls. METHOD: Serum testosterone fractions of 20 men above the age of 45 years suffering from a major depressive disorder were compared with those of 20 healthy men. An age-matched controlled design was used to account for the usual age-related decline in serum testosterone concentrations. RESULTS: Testosterone concentrations of men suffering from a major depressive disorder were statistically significantly lower than those of an age-matched control group without depression. CONCLUSION: The role of testosterone deficiency in depressed men needs to be examined further in order for appropriate treatment options to be developed.891463 bytesapplication/pdfenHealth and Medical Publishing GroupAndrogen deficiencyDepressive disorderAndrogensMiddle-aged menDepression in old ageTestosteroneArticle