Journal of General Internal Medicine
Volume 8, Issue 2, 1993, Pages 76-81

Prevalence of depressive symptoms among established vietnamese refugees in the united states - Detection in a primary care setting (Article)

Buchwald D.* , Manson S.M. , Dinges N.G. , Keane E.M. , Kinzie J.D.
  • a the Department of Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
  • b the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado, United States
  • c the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Human Services, College of Rural Alaska, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
  • d the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado, United States
  • e the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, United States

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms among Vietnamese refugees who have lived in the United States for at least two months. Design: A prospective and descriptive study using the Vietnamese Depression Scale (VDS). Scores of ≥ 13 on the VDS were considered indicative of depression. Setting: Ten public health clinics in four states. Patients/participants: Four hundred seventy-six consecutive adult Vietnamese refugees presenting for primary care. Interventions: The VDS, an 18-item culture-specific self-report measure, was used to screen for depressive symptoms. Measurements and main results: Twenty percent of these patients had scores of 13 or above. Although being female; being older; being divorced, separated, or widowed; and being poorly educated were significant univariate risk factors for screening positive, only the latter two were significant in a multivariate model. Physical complaints were common and induced considerable anxiety about health status, but psychological and emotional symptoms were even more prevalent. Patients scoring 13 or higher had a higher rate of endorsement for every item in the scale than did those scoring lower than 13. Conclusions: This study substantiates the feasibility and importance of screening for depressive symptoms among Vietnamese refugees, particularly in primary care settings where they are most likely to seek care for both medical and psychological problems. © 1993 Society of General Internal Medicine.

Author Keywords

Primary care Screening Vietnamese Prediction Depression Refugees

Index Keywords

anxiety Vietnam prospective study depression primary medical care refugee demography Prospective Studies human Refugees health status Aged screening United States Community Health Centers Adolescent male female Socioeconomic Factors risk factor Risk Factors Multivariate Analysis prevalence scoring system Article Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. emotion major clinical study adult Middle Age Culture
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0027526423&doi=10.1007%2fBF02599987&partnerID=40&md5=5a277f28b9d1d16c1cbfbb0052f68845
DOI: 10.1007/BF02599987
ISSN: 08848734
Cited by: 16
Original Language: English