Persistent depressive disorders and social stress in people of Pakistani origin and white Europeans in UK.
BACKGROUND
We compared depression, social stress and treatment in people of Pakistani origin and white Europeans living in an UK city.


METHODS
In a population-based two-phase sample of 1,856 adults we interviewed 651 (77%) of eligible participants, using the schedule for clinical assessment in neuropsychiatry and life events and difficulties schedule. We identified 216 people with depressive and 208 with subthreshold disorder; after 6-months we re-interviewed 398 (94% response).


RESULTS
Depressive disorder was more common in Pakistani women only (31.1% [24.1-38.0] vs.19.3% [14.1-24.5]) and persisted more often in Pakistanis over 50 years of age (90 vs.66%, P = 0.023). New episodes of depressive disorder occurred in 17% of participants who had subthreshold disorder at baseline in each ethnic group. Persistent depression in the Pakistani group was associated with continuing problems of disabling physical illness and close relationships. Treatment was limited and not associated with persistent depression.


CONCLUSIONS
Persistent depressive disorder in older people of Pakistani origin is associated with potentially remediable factors.
Gater
Richard
R
Psychiatry Research Group, University of Manchester, Rawnsley Building, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK.
Tomenson
Barbara
B
Percival
Carol
C
Chaudhry
Nasim
N
Waheed
Waquas
W
Dunn
Graham
G
Macfarlane
Gary
G
Creed
Francis
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000208:ethnology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult