# Associations between appetite loss and psychopathology as well as gender differences in adolescents with major depressive disorders

## TL;DR

This study finds that appetite loss is common in adolescents with depression, especially girls, and is linked to symptoms like sleep issues and depression severity.

## Contribution

The study identifies gender-specific associations between appetite loss and clinical symptoms in adolescents with major depressive disorders.

## Key findings

- Appetite loss was independently associated with gender, BMI, depression severity, and insomnia in adolescents with MDD.
- Female patients showed stronger associations between appetite loss and BMI, depression severity, and insomnia compared to males.
- Combining clinical factors improved prediction of appetite loss, with better accuracy in females than males.

## Abstract

Appetite loss is frequent in patients with major depressive disorders (MDD). However, research on the association between appetite loss and psychopathology symptoms in adolescents with MDD remains limited, particularly regarding gender differences. Therefore, this study aimed to explore these associations and potential gender differences.

A cross-sectional study carried out between January to December 2021 in eight hospitals, recruiting 364 adolescents with MDD. It utilized the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), the Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation Scale for Adolescents (PANSI), the Chinese version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and the Chinese version of the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) to assess patients’ depressive severity, suicidal ideation, sleepiness, insomnia, and internet addiction, respectively. Logistic regression was employed to examine the independent factors with an impact on appetite loss.

The prevalence of appetite loss was 69.2% in adolescents with MDD and 74.7% in female patients. Regression results indicated that appetite loss was independently correlated with Gender (OR = 0.559, 95% CI = 0.331 ~ 0.944, p = 0.029), BMI (OR = 0.925, 95% CI = 0.876 ~ 0.977, p = 0.005), HAMD score (OR = 1.080, 95% CI = 1.041 ~ 1.120, p < 0.001) and ISI score (OR = 1.073, 95% CI = 1.024 ~ 1.124, p = 0.003). When discussing gender differences, it was found that female patients were independently associated with BMI, HAMD score and ISI score, while male patients were only independently associated with HAMD score. Finally, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve results showed that combining Gender, BMI, HAMD score, and ISI score predicted appetite loss well (AUC = 0.746). In female patients, the combined prediction of BMI, HAMD score, ESS score, and ISI score demonstrated predictive value for appetite loss (AUC = 0.732). In male patients, the HAMD score served as an effective predictor (AUC = 0.713).

Adolescents with MDD, particularly females, faced a heightened risk of appetite loss. Additionally, appetite loss was significantly associated with multiple clinical symptoms, and these associations showed certain gender differences.

Not applicable.