A man's stereotypical self-image as the "strong, silent type" and the stigma of depression are major reasons why older men are less likely than women to be referred to studies of depression, to seek treatment and to recognize and express symptoms of depression, according to a new study by UC Davis researchers.

The study provides some of the strongest evidence to date that depressed older men are less likely than women to receive treatment for their depression, underscoring the extent of these barriers. Authored by UC Davis associate professor of psychiatry professor Ladson Hinton, the study appeared in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.