 |
|
Prevalence and Distribution of Major Depressive Disorder in African Americans, Caribbean Blacks, and Non-Hispanic WhitesResults From the National Survey of American Life
David R. Williams, PhD;
Hector M. González, PhD;
Harold Neighbors, PhD;
Randolph Nesse, MD;
Jamie M. Abelson, MSW;
Julie Sweetman, MS;
James S. Jackson, PhD
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2007;64(3):305-315.
Context Little is known about the relationship between race/ethnicity and depression among US blacks.
Objective To estimate the prevalence, persistence, treatment, and disability of depression in African Americans, Caribbean blacks, and non-Hispanic whites in the National Survey of American Life.
Design A slightly modified adaptation of the World Health Organization World Mental Health version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview.
Setting National household probability samples of noninstitutionalized African Americans, Caribbean blacks, and non-Hispanic whites in the United States conducted between February 2, 2001, and June 30, 2003.
Participants A total of 3570 African Americans, 1621 Caribbean blacks, and 891 non-Hispanic whites aged 18 years and older (N = 6082).
Main Outcome Measures Lifetime and 12-month diagnoses of DSM-IV major depressive disorder (MDD), 12-month mental health services use, and MDD disability as quantified using the Sheehan Disability Scale and the World Health Organization's Disability Assessment Schedule II.
Results Lifetime MDD prevalence estimates were highest for whites (17.9%), followed by Caribbean blacks (12.9%) and African Americans (10.4%); however, 12-month MDD estimates across groups were similar. The chronicity of MDD was higher for both black groups (56.5% for African Americans and 56.0% for Caribbean blacks) than for whites (38.6%). Fewer than half of the African Americans (45.0%) and fewer than a quarter (24.3%) of the Caribbean blacks who met the criteria received any form of MDD therapy. In addition, relative to whites, both black groups were more likely to rate their MDD as severe or very severe and more disabling.
Conclusions When MDD affects African Americans and Caribbean blacks, it is usually untreated and is more severe and disabling compared with that in non-Hispanic whites. The burden of mental disorders, especially depressive disorders, may be higher among US blacks than in US whites.
Author Affiliations: Departments of Sociology (Dr Williams), Epidemiology (Dr Williams), Psychiatry (Dr Nesse), and Psychology (Dr Jackson), Institute for Social Research (Drs Williams and Jackson and Mss Abelson and Sweetman), and Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health (Dr Neighbors), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; and Institute of Gerontology and Department of Family Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich (Dr González). Dr Williams is currently at the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Mass.
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
Preventing Depression in Old Age: It's Time
Reynolds
AJGP 2008;16:433-434.
FULL TEXT
New Evidence Regarding Racial And Ethnic Disparities In Mental Health: Policy Implications
McGuire and Miranda
Health Aff (Millwood) 2008;27:393-403.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Higher Burden of Depression Among Older Women: The Effect of Onset, Persistence, and Mortality Over Time
Barry et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 2008;65:172-178.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Measuring Trends in Mental Health Care Disparities, 2000 2004
Cook et al.
Psychiatr. Serv. 2007;58:1533-1540.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Insurance Expansions: Do They Hurt Those They Are Designed To Help?
Richman
Health Aff (Millwood) 2007;26:1345-1357.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Commentary: Race and mental health more questions than answers
Williams and Earl
Int J Epidemiol 2007;36:758-760.
FULL TEXT
|
