The impact of age, gender, race, and ethnicity on the diagnosis and treatment of depression.
OBJECTIVE
To review issues related to culture and ethnicity that influence diagnosis, treatment, and response for patients who have major depressive disorder (MDD).


CONCLUSIONS
People from different ethnic and cultural groups may present with MDD differently. Communication, clarity, and collaboration are key to successful patient-provider relationships. Often, patients. presentation involves somatic complaints, or symptoms that have not traditionally been associated with a diagnosis of depression. People from minority groups may be less trusting, less adherent, and more skeptical than others. Further, chronic medical illnesses may result in MDD, and patients from ethnic minorities often respond to medications differently from whites. Each patient.s culture and ethnicity must be addressed when they present. Clinicians should always ask,.Are there any cultural issues at work here?.


CONCLUSIONS
Cultural competence is a journey, not a destination, and every provider must learn to question carefully, appreciate culture.s role, and help patients work with them to achieve a better mental and physical health status.
Harris
Patrice A
PA
Emory University School of Law, Atlanta, GA, USA. pharris@law.emory.edu.
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D003469:Culture; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs