Ethnicity important factor in substance use, mood and anxiety disorders

[Lunar Loops]

This report makes no mention of socio-economic factors. I don't find the results particularly surprising, but what about root causes? Anyone have access to the full report (link at bottom) without having to pay £15 / $25 for the privilige?

This from Psychiatrysource.com (http://www.psychiatrysource.com/News...d-a.aspx?l1=3) :

19 June 2006

Ethnic differences appear to influence the prevalence of substance use, mood, and anxiety disorders, suggest study findings published in the journal Psychological Medicine.

"The variation in co-morbidity of these specific disorders among race/ethnic groups, which was unavailable before, highlights the importance of detailed race/ethnic information that might help guide future research on etiology and the development of culturally sensitive prevention and treatment programs," say Sharon Smith and colleagues from the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

The researchers analyzed data from a survey of 43,093 US adults aged 18 years and older. The prevalences and associations of major mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders were examined and compared across five ethnic groups – Asian, Native American, White, Black, and Hispanic.

Twelve-month rates of most mood, anxiety and substance use disorders tended to be greatest among Native Americans and lowest among Asian individuals.

Compared with White individuals, rates of alcohol and drug dependence, major depression, dysthymia, and panic disorder without agoraphobia were significantly higher among Native Americans.

The prevalence of most, if not all current substance use, mood, and anxiety disorders was significantly greater among Native Americans compared with Black individuals, Asians, and Hispanic participants.

Hispanic people showed significantly higher rates of alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, drug dependence, panic disorder with and without agoraphobia, and specific phobia than Asian individuals.

From the findings, Smith et al comment that "information on psychiatric disorders among Native Americans is scarce and special attention to the mental health needs of this group appears warranted."

For most ethnic groups, alcohol and drug dependence, but not abuse, was significantly associated with mood disorders, but, with few exceptions, alcohol and drug abuse did not appear to be linked to anxiety disorders.

In contrast, alcohol dependence was associated with most anxiety disorders among White, Black and Asian individuals, but not among Native Americans.

The investigators acknowledge that further work is needed to determine the reasons for the differences across ethnic groups.

Nevertheless, they say that their findings provide information that "is critical to the planning of local and national mental health services and the design of prevention and intervention programs targeted at high-risk subgroups."



Source: Psychol Med 2006; 36: 987–998