Research article: Antidepressant use among Asians in the United States.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the prevalence and predictors of past-year antidepressant use in a nationally representative sample of Asian Americans and non-Latino Whites.


METHODS
Analyses of 12-month antidepressant medication use were based on data from the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys that surveyed Asian (Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese, and others; N=2,284) and non-Latino White (N=6,696) household residents ages 18 years and older in the 48 contiguous United States and Hawaii.


RESULTS
Prevalence rates for 12-month antidepressant use for Asians with major depression ranged from 8.7% among Vietnamese to 17% among Chinese respondents. Compared to non-Latino Whites (32.4%), all Asians (10.9%) meeting criteria for 12-month depressive and anxiety disorders, but especially Filipinos (8.8%) were less likely to report past-year antidepressant use.


CONCLUSIONS
We found disparities in past-year antidepressant use among all the examined major Asian groups meeting criteria for 12-month depressive and anxiety disorders. These disparities were not explained by mental health need or socioeconomic factors that enable access to care.
González
Hector M
HM
Department of Family Medicine, Institute of Gerontology and School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. hmgonzalez@med.wayne.edu
Tarraf
Wassim
W
West
Brady T
BT
Chan
Domin
D
Miranda
Patricia Y
PY
Leong
Fredrick T
FT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019263:Dysthymic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010679:Philippines / Q000208:ethnology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D014744:Vietnam / Q000208:ethnology; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
D000928:Antidepressive Agents