title: Correlates associated with unipolar depressive disorders in a Latino population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study reports the comparison and associations of demographic, clinical and psychosocial correlates with three unipolar depressive disorders: dysthymia (DYS), major depression (MD) and double depression (DD), and examines to which extent these variables predict the disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Previously collected data from 563 adults from a community in Puerto Rico were analyzed. One hundred and thirty individuals with DYS, 260 with MD and 173 with DD were compared by demographic variables, psychiatric and physical comorbidity, familial psychopathology, psychosocial stressors, functional impairment, self-reliance, problem recognition and formal use of mental health services. Multinomial regression was used to assess the association of the predictor variables with each of the three disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Similarities outweighed the discrepancies between the disorders. The main differences observed were between MD and DD, while DYS shared common characteristics with both MD and DD. After other variables were controlled, anxiety, functional impairment and problem recognition most strongly predicted a DD diagnosis, while age predicted a DYS diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MD, DYS and DD are not completely different disorders, but they do differ in key aspects that might be relevant for nosology, research and practice. A dimensional system that incorporates specific categories of disorders would better reflect the different manifestations of unipolar depressive disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Disparities Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. vcorrea@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Virmarie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Correa-Fernández
authors.forename: José R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Carrión-Baralt
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alegría
authors.forename: Carmen E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Albizu-García
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001007:Anxiety; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D019263:Dysthymic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011340:Problem Solving; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000453:epidemiology; D012107:Research Design; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support