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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

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01-07-2012 | Original Paper

Ethnic and migrational impact on the clinical manifestation of depression

Authors: Eberhard A. Deisenhammer, Müberra Çoban-Başaran, Atıl Mantar, Regina Prunnlechner, Georg Kemmler, Tunç Alkın, Hartmann Hinterhuber

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 7/2012

Abstract

Purpose

Depressive disorders are still underdiagnosed. Ethnic and cultural factors may influence the way depression is presented and therefore contribute to problems in assessing these disorders in different ethnic populations appropriately. In this investigation, the impact of both ethnicity and migration on the manifestation of depression was studied.

Methods

Three groups of depressed female patients (n = 136) were included in this investigation on the variation in depressive symptomatology by ethnic groups. Group 1 consisted of Austrian patients living in Austria, group 2 were Turkish patients who had migrated to Austria and group 3 were Turkish patients living in Turkey. Participants were rated using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Bradford Somatic Inventory (BSI) and an additional list of physical symptoms.

Results

Both Turkish groups had significantly higher BSI scores and more somatic symptom severity. Migrated Turkish patients scored significantly higher in the items headache, backache and dry mouth than Turkish patients in Turkey. In addition, there were between-group differences in non-physical symptoms.

Conclusions

Depressive symptomatology varies between ethnic groups. These differences are mainly due to ethnicity as such but migration may play an additional role. It is essential for physicians to be aware of atypical presentation forms of depression in minority groups.

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Title: Ethnic and migrational impact on the clinical manifestation of depression
Authors: Eberhard A. Deisenhammer
Müberra Çoban-Başaran
Atıl Mantar
Regina Prunnlechner
Georg Kemmler
Tunç Alkın
Hartmann Hinterhuber
Publication date: 01-07-2012
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 7/2012
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-011-0417-1

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Ethnic and migrational impact on the clinical manifestation of depression

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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