Immigration, stress, and depressive symptoms in a Mexican-American community

Article Abstract:

It has been claimed that immigrants to the United States experience a higher incidence of depressive symptoms, which may be attributable to a high degree of stress as a result of their immigrant status and the immigration process. However, some studies have demonstrated that, as a group, immigrants have abundant psychological resources. The differences in depressive symptoms were examined and compared in two different immigrant groups; the first group consisted of 706 subjects born in Mexico; the other consisted of 538 individuals born in the US, but of Mexican descent. The subjects, who were 18 years of age or older, were scored using a variety of scales; questionnaires were used with statistical methods to assess the data. Factors that were examined along with depressive symptoms included the effects of stress, social resources, and social conflict. The data were derived from the Los Angeles Epidemiologic Catchment Area study, sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health. When the results were examined, the group that was born in the US had more depressive symptoms than immigrants born in Mexico. When adjustments were made for differences such as socioeconomic status, amount of stress, and social resources, the individuals born in this country still had a higher incidence of symptoms. In the US-born group, low educational and acculturation levels were associated with depression, but these characteristics did not correlate with the frequency of depressive symptoms in the Mexican-born subjects. Some of the possible explanations for this are discussed. Those born in the US may perceive themselves as disadvantaged because of the lack of relatives. It was also suggested that a selective migration pattern may be involved; those who immigrate from Mexico may be less vulnerable to depression. Additional research to further investigate the causes of the differences between these two immigrant groups is recommended. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Social aspects, United States, Causes of, Immigrants, Mexican Americans, Emigration and immigration, Mexicans, Mexicans in the United States

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Chronic medical conditions in a sample of the general population with anxiety, affective, and substance use disorders

Article Abstract:

Individuals who have both psychiatric illness and chronic medical problems are likely to require significant amounts of medical care in their lifetimes at high financial cost; they may also have limited ability to function in society. The incidence of eight chronic medical conditions was estimated for persons with three different types of psychiatric disorders and persons with no psychiatric problems. The three psychiatric categories were substance (drug/alcohol) use, anxiety, and affective disorders (such as depression). This survey was conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and included 2,554 adults, 50 percent of whom were Hispanic. The overall prevalence of any lifetime chronic medical condition was as follows for the subject groups: affective disorders, 61.4 percent; anxiety disorders, 57.1 percent; and substance use, 57.7 percent. All psychiatric groups had a significantly higher prevalence than the group with no lifetime psychiatric disorder, which had a rate of 53.4 percent. The only type of psychiatric problem associated with current, active chronic medical illness was anxiety. This may indicate that patients with anxiety develop medical conditions more rapidly than patients with other psychiatric problems. Cause and effect relationships were not investigated. Anxiety could either result from or precipitate a major medical illness. The results indicate that patients with anxiety symptoms should be screened carefully for diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and physical handicaps.

Research, Complications and side effects, Statistics, Surveys, Substance abuse, Affective disorders, Mood disorders, Anxiety, United States. National Institute of Mental Health, Psychiatric research, Chronically ill, Mental health surveys

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How the medical comorbidity of depressed patients differs across health care settings: results from the medical outcomes study

Article Abstract:

Depression is probably the most common health problem seen by general medical clinicians and mental health workers. It is also frequently seen among those with hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. It is not known if the medical comorbidity of depressed patients differs across health care settings. The current study examined data on depressed patients receiving ongoing care in medical or mental health care facilities under fee-for-service payment or prepaid health care plans. A self-report survey was obtained from 1,152 adult outpatients to identify chronic medical conditions and complaints, and psychiatric history. Overall, the patients had an unusually high rate of common medical conditions, which included heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, chronic back and lung problems, and arthritis. The prevalence of comorbidity ranged from 64.9 to 71.0 percent. While no differences in prevalence could be attributed to payment method for health care services, the type of primary health care was somewhat associated to prevalence. Those seeking treatment in the medical sector had a higher prevalence of high blood pressure and arthritis than those seen in the mental health sector, and were more likely to be taking medication for this condition (an indication of severity). The most salient finding is that clinicians in all health care settings must be prepared to treat chronic medical problems in their depressed patients. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Evaluation, Health facilities, Patients

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