Psychosomatics
Volume 40, Issue 2, 1999, Pages 117-125

Depression and demoralization among Russian-Jewish immigrants in primary care (Article)

Gutkovich Z.* , Rosenthal R.N. , Galynker I. , Muran C. , Batchelder S. , Itskhoki E.
  • a Depts. of Psychiatry and Medicine, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY, United States, Schneider Children's Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Div. of Child and Adol. Psychiatry, New York, NY, United States, Schneider Children's Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Div. of Child and Adol. Psychiatry, 269-01-76th Ave., New Hyde Park, NY 11040, United States
  • b Depts. of Psychiatry and Medicine, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
  • c Depts. of Psychiatry and Medicine, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
  • d Depts. of Psychiatry and Medicine, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
  • e Depts. of Psychiatry and Medicine, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
  • f Depts. of Psychiatry and Medicine, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY, United States

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the levels and nature of psychological distress and depression among Russian-Jewish emigres in primary care. Fifty-seven consecutive patients at the primary care clinic were assessed with the Hamilton Depression Scale (Ham-D). The subjects completed self-rating scales, including the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Life Orientation Test, Beck Hopelessness scale, Attributional Style Questionnaire, and Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale. Data on demographics and physical complaints were collected and analyzed. Of the patients studied, 82.5% experienced psychological distress (BDI ≥10), and 43.9% had clinically significant depressive symptoms (Ham-D ≥17). BDI and Ham-D scores were significantly correlated with the number of psychosomatic complaints, hopelessness, lack of optimism, anhedonia, and dysfunctional attributional style. The distressed, but not depressed, patients had preservation of hedonic capacity. The authors found a high rate of depression based upon Ham- D scores among the Russian-Jewish emigres in primary care. The authors suggest that this high rate is attributable to a culturally specific tendency to express distress in somatic terms. The nature of distress was phenomenologically similar to demoralization.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

male ethnic group distress syndrome female depression immigrant primary medical care psychosomatic disorder questionnaire high risk population affective neurosis Article somatization motivation human adult family United States
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0033057813&doi=10.1016%2fS0033-3182%2899%2971257-0&partnerID=40&md5=78facfc64565a79c38958f864cecfb6a
DOI: 10.1016/S0033-3182(99)71257-0
ISSN: 00333182
Cited by: 33
Original Language: English