Psychiatric Services
Volume 59, Issue 6, 2008, Pages 641-647

Prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment of depression and generalized anxiety disorder in a diverse urban community (Article)

Gwynn R.C. , McQuistion H.L. , McVeigh K.H. , Garg R.K. , Frieden T.R. , Thorpe L.E.
  • a Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th St., New York, NY 10032, United States, Department of Psychiatry, St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospitals, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, United States
  • b Department of Psychiatry, St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospitals, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, United States
  • c Division of Epidemiology, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York City, United States
  • d Division of Epidemiology, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York City, United States
  • e Division of Epidemiology, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York City, United States
  • f Division of Epidemiology, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York City, United States

Abstract

Objective: This study assessed the prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder among New York City adults. Methods: As part of the first community-specific Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in the United States, depression and anxiety were assessed in a representative sample of 1,817 non-institutionalized adults in 2004. Results: A total of 8% had major depressive disorder and 4% had generalized anxiety disorder. Respondents with depression were more likely to be formerly married, publicly insured, younger, and U.S. born. Only 55% of adults with depression were diagnosed, and 38% of those with depression or anxiety were in treatment; individuals with a diagnosis of depression were more likely to receive treatment than those without a diagnosis (61% versus 7%; p<.001). Immigrants with depression were 60% less likely to be diagnosed than their U.S.-born counterparts; immigrants arriving in this country ten or more years ago had slightly more anxiety than immigrants arriving less than ten years ago (3% versus 2%, not significant). Among respondents with anxiety, 23% reported disability compared with 15% of those with depression. Compared with adults with neither diagnosis, adults with depression or anxiety were twice as likely to smoke tobacco (p<.05), adults with depression were twice as likely to have diabetes (p<.01), and those with anxiety were twice as likely to have asthma (p<.01). Conclusions: Mental disorders are often disabling and inadequately diagnosed and treated. Foreign-born adults experience barriers to diagnosis and treatment despite having less depression; anxiety may increase with time since immigration. Increased awareness of and linkage to mental health services are needed, especially in larger, more diverse urban communities.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

urban population immigrant human diabetes mellitus controlled study statistical significance mental disease United States smoking male counseling asthma female prevalence Article nutrition major clinical study adult generalized anxiety disorder disability serotonin uptake inhibitor major depression antidepressant agent public health health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-49749145291&doi=10.1176%2fps.2008.59.6.641&partnerID=40&md5=268f13012f5e0edd8702aa2a5a16d23a
DOI: 10.1176/ps.2008.59.6.641
ISSN: 10752730
Cited by: 54
Original Language: English