The National Institute of Mental Heath (NIMH)-sponsored "Real Men. Real Depression." campaign is just one of the topics that will be discussed at the "Men and depression: New perspectives in practice, health-care promotion and research" symposium at APA's Annual Convention in Washington, D.C., Aug. 18–21.

The symposium will explore new perspectives on men and depression, says symposium chair Aaron Rochlen, PhD, of the University of Texas.

Rochlen says the session will highlight current debates in the area; for example, participants will discuss how well the criteria in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the DSM-IV, capture men's respective experience of depression, since men may not show traditional warning signs of the disorder like disproportionate eating, sleeping or crying. The symposium will also explore other initiatives in diagnosis, treatment and men's underutilization of mental health services.

"Men's mental health is a significant problem and the idea that masculinity does not fit with depression has passed," says Rochlen. "So now we need to get to the root of the problem."

The symposium presenters and their topics are:

• Daisy Whittemore, special assistant to the director of the "Real Men. Real Depression." campaign, will present "'Real Men. Real Depression.' campaign: An overview."

• Sam Cochran, PhD, director of the University of Iowa's Counseling Center, will present, "Masked depression: New developments and critical concepts for diagnosis and treatment."

• Michael Addis, PhD, and graduate student Mariola Magovcevic, of Clark University, will present "Research on men and depression: Where are we and where should we be going?"

APA President Ronald F. Levant, EdD, will be the panel's discussant. The session is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 19, at 10 a.m.

--Z. STAMBOR

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