title: Psychological distress, gender and dietary factors in South Asians: a cross-sectional survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Psychological distress, defined as symptoms of depression and anxiety, is an increasingly important public health issue in developing countries. Little is known about the extent to which adverse dietary factors are associated with psychological distress in South Asians. Our aim was to compare the associations of diet and psychological distress in men and women in Goa, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of consecutive attendees in nine urban and rural general practices in Goa, India in 2004-2005. All participants completed an FFQ on their dietary intake in a typical week. Psychological distress was measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), a WHO-validated screening instrument.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consecutive attendees (n 1512; 601 men and 911 women) aged 30 to 75 years participated. Moderate and high scores of psychological distress were detected in significantly more women than men (eighty-eight men v. 264 women, unadjusted OR = 0·39; 95 % CI 0·29, 0·52). Those who ate one or more portions of fish weekly had nearly half the prevalence of distress in both sexes (women, OR = 0·52; 95 % CI 0·29, 0·91; men, OR = 0·50; 95 % CI 0·25, 0·99) and this was independent of age, marital status, education, income, religion and living alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychological distress is significantly lower with fish intake in both sexes. Further longitudinal work is needed to establish temporal relationships. Addressing psychological distress is becoming an increasingly significant public health priority in both high- and low-income countries.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Primary Care and Population Health,University College London,Royal Free Campus,Rowland Hill Street,London NW3 2PF,UK.
authors.forename: Mimi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bhattacharyya
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Primary Care and Population Health,University College London,Royal Free Campus,Rowland Hill Street,London NW3 2PF,UK.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marston
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Primary Care and Population Health,University College London,Royal Free Campus,Rowland Hill Street,London NW3 2PF,UK.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.affiliation: 2Voluntary Health Association of Goa,Panaji,Goa,India.
authors.forename: Gladstone
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Costa
authors.affiliation: 3Research Department of Mental Health Sciences,University College London,London,UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Primary Care and Population Health,University College London,Royal Free Campus,Rowland Hill Street,London NW3 2PF,UK.
authors.forename: Irwin
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nazareth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D017747:Seafood; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires