title: Treatment of self-reported depression among Hispanics and African Americans.
abstract: This study applied the Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations framework to examine the correlates of depression and the receipt of medical treatment among low-income Hispanics and African Americans residing in public housing. We compared three groups: those who reported (1) self-diagnosed but without physician-diagnosed depression, (2) depression diagnosed by a physician but who did not receive pharmaceutical treatment, and (3) depression diagnosed by a physician and antidepressant pharmacotherapy consumed by patient. Random samples of 287 adults from three public housing communities were surveyed. Over 48% of this sample reported that they were suffering from depression. One out of three people who reported being depressed also said that a physician had never diagnosed his or her condition. Only 40% of those who said that a physician had diagnosed depression also reported taking antidepressant medication. Untreated depression among underserved racial and ethnic minorities is alarming and points to an urgent need for intervention.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Family Medicine, and Research Centers in Minority Institutions, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 East 120th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA. mobazarg@cdrewu.edu
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bazargan
authors.forename: Shahrzad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bazargan-Hejazi
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D011203:Poverty / Q000208:ethnology; D011638:Public Housing; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents