Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-5xszh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-28T12:26:50.593Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Specifying race-ethnic differences in risk for psychiatric disorder in a USA national sample

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 October 2005

JOSHUA BRESLAU
Affiliation:
Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
SERGIO AGUILAR-GAXIOLA
Affiliation:
University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA
KENNETH S. KENDLER
Affiliation:
Departments of Psychiatry and Human Genetics, Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
MAXWELL SU
Affiliation:
Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
DAVID WILLIAMS
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology and Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
RONALD C. KESSLER
Affiliation:
Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Abstract

Background. Epidemiological studies have found lower than expected prevalence of psychiatric disorders among disadvantaged race-ethnic minority groups in the USA. Recent research shows that this is due entirely to reduced lifetime risk of disorders, as opposed to persistence. Specification of race-ethnic differences with respect to clinical and social characteristics can help identify the protective factors that lead to lower lifetime risk among disadvantaged minority groups.

Method. Data on 5424 Hispanics, non-Hispanic Blacks, and non-Hispanic Whites came from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication, a nationally representative survey conducted with the World Mental Health version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Race-ethnic differences in risk of disorders were compared across specific diagnoses, ages of onset, cohorts and levels of education.

Results. Both minority groups had lower risk for common internalizing disorders: depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and social phobia. In addition, Hispanics had lower risk for dysthymia, oppositional-defiant disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; non-Hispanic Blacks had lower risk for panic disorder, substance use disorders and early-onset impulse control disorders. Lower risk among Hispanics, relative to non-Hispanic Whites, was found only among the younger cohort (age [les ]43 years). Lower risk among minorities was more pronounced at lower levels of education.

Conclusion. The pattern of race-ethnic differences in risk for psychiatric disorders suggests the presence of protective factors that originate in childhood and have generalized effects on internalizing disorders. For Hispanics, but not for non-Hispanic Blacks, the influence of these protective factors has emerged only recently.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
2005 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)