Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
Volume 54, Issue 11, 2009, Pages 734-742

Differences in prevalence and treatment of bipolar disorder among immigrants: Results from an epidemiologic survey (Article) (Open Access)

Schaffer A.* , Cairney J. , Cheung A. , Veldhuizen S. , Kurdyak P. , Levitt A.
  • a Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • b Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • c Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • d Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • e Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • f Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Canada

Abstract

Objective: To add to the limited data on the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and treatment of bipolar disorder (BD) among immigrants. Method: Data were obtained from a large epidemiologic survey, the Canadian Community Health Survey - Mental Health and Well-Being (CCHS 1.2). Lifetime prevalence rates of BD were compared between immigrant and nonimmigrant respondents. Among BD subjects (n = 831), sociodemographic, clinical, and mental health treatment use variables were compared based on immigrant status. Logistic regression was used to determine the correlates of lifetime contact with a mental health professional and 12-month psychotropic medication use. Results: Lifetime prevalence rate of CCHS 1.2-defined BD was significantly lower among immigrant, compared with nonimmigrant, participants (1.50% and 2.27%, P = 0.01). There were few sociodemographic or clinical differences, yet immigrants with BD were significantly less likely to report any lifetime contact with mental health professionals (OR = 0.25, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.50, P < 0.001). Past-year psychotropic medication use was numerically lower among immigrants with BD (24.5% and 41.0%); however, this did not reach statistical significance when controlling for other factors (OR = 0.49, 95% CI 0.24 to 1.01, P = 0.05). Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, there are in the range of 56 000 to 104 000 immigrants with BD in Canada. Further efforts are needed to better understand and address the barriers to mental health treatment use among immigrants who have BD.

Author Keywords

Immigrant bipolar disorder Epidemiology

Index Keywords

immigrant logistic regression analysis demography hypnotic agent human controlled study mental health care bipolar disorder psychopharmacotherapy drug utilization ethnic difference male Canada female prevalence Article mood stabilizer major clinical study adult sedative agent psychotropic agent antidepressant agent mental health care personnel health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-73449104257&doi=10.1177%2f070674370905401103&partnerID=40&md5=df494a633a05ee8c5a1c18ce7b1c736a
DOI: 10.1177/070674370905401103
ISSN: 07067437
Cited by: 13
Original Language: English