title: Perceived discrimination is a potential contributing factor to substance use and mental health problems among primary care patients in Chile.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Perceived discrimination is a prevalent problem that has been linked to negative health outcomes for victims. The goal of this research was to examine whether perceived discrimination within the past 6 months was related to 6-month prevalence of problem drinking, illicit drug use, major depressive disorder (MDD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sample of primary care patients in Chile.
  
  
  METHODS
  Structured diagnostic assessments were administered to assess for MDD and PTSD using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test assessed hazardous alcohol use. Additional measures captured illegal drug use and discrimination in the past 6 months. Measures were administered to 2839 participants between the ages of 15 to 98 in primary care centers in the Chilean cities of Concepcion and Talcahuano.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Controlling for demographic variables and previous trauma victimization, patients who reported discrimination in the past 6 months were significantly more likely to engage in hazardous alcohol use, illegal drug use, be diagnosed with MDD, and PTSD within this same time period than patients not reporting discrimination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights the importance of considering discrimination as a potential contributing factor to substance use and mental health problems in a Latin American sample.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655, USA. Capezza.Nicole@gmail.com
authors.forename: Nicole M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Capezza
authors.forename: Caron
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zlotnick
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kohn
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vicente
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saldivia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D002677:Chile; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D011287:Prejudice; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs