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Adverse social circumstances and depression in people of Pakistani origin in the UK

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Nusrat Husain ,
Francis Creed  and
Barbara Tomenson
Nusrat Husain
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry and Behavioural Science, Manchester Royal Infirmary
Francis Creed*
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry and Behavioural Science, Manchester Royal Infirmary
Barbara Tomenson
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry and Behavioural Science, Manchester Royal Infirmary
*
Professor Francis Creed, School of Psychiatry and Behavioural Science, Rawnsley Building, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester M12 9WL
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Abstract

Background

The social origins of depression in people of Pakistani origin in the UK are not fully understood; they may not be the same as for the indigenous White population.

Method

Patients attending a GP's surgery were screened with the Personal Health Questionnaire to detect depressive illness, which was confirmed using the Psychiatric Assessment Schedule; the estimated prevalence of major depression was 42%. Forty-four people with depression and 33 non-depressed comparison subjects were successfully interviewed using the Life Event and Difficulty Schedule, either in Urdu or English.

Results

Seventy-five per cent of the sample were Pakistani born; 57% of cases and 33% of non-cases spoke English with difficulty. Seventy-five per cent of the cases and 36% of the non-cases had experienced an independent severe event and/or a major difficulty (P=0.0015). Difficulties associated with depression were most commonly in the marital, health and housing categories; overt racial harassment and discrimination were rare.

Conclusions

This is a preliminary study because of the small sample of GP attenders. The somatic presentation of depression in this population is clear. Acceptable forms of social support and help with marital, housing and employment problems will be needed to help relieve the depression in this population.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 171 , Issue 5 , November 1997 , pp. 434 - 438
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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Footnotes

†

cf. related paper: Ronalds et al, pp. 427–433. this issue.

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