Table 1.
Findings from previous population-based studies of specific DSM-IV mood, anxiety, and substance use psychiatric disorders in African American and Caribbean women in the U.S.
| Psychiatric Disorder | Population-Based Study | Diagnostic Criteria | Prevalence Observation Period [Reference no.] a | Rates of Disorder by Ethnicity? | Rates of Disorder by Nativity? | Groups of Women Compared | Main Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mood Disorders | |||||||
| Major Depressive Disorder | ECA | DSM-III | 6 mo. [28] | No | No | Black < White | Rates of MDD among Black women are less than or equal to that of White women. |
| ECA | DSM-III | 6 mo. [4], 12 mo., [29] | No | No | Black ≤ White | ||
| Lifetime [4] | No | No | Black ≤ White | (same as above) | |||
| NCS | DSM-III R | 30 day [5] | No | No | Black ≤ White | (same as above) | |
| NSAL | DSM-IV | 12 mo., Lifetime [22,23] | Yes | No | NHW > CB = AA | (same as above) | |
| NSAL | DSM-IV | 12 mo. [20], Lifetime [20,21] | No | No | AA ≤ White | (same as above) | |
| NSAL | DSM-IV | Lifetime [12] | Yes | No | AA = CB | No ethnic differences observed among women. | |
| NSAL | DSM-IV | 12 mo., Lifetime [30,31] | No | No | AA only | Sociodemographic correlates of MDD differ for AA men compared to AA women. | |
| Dysthymia | NSAL | DSM-IV | 12 mo. Lifetime [23] | Yes | No | AA = CB = NHW | No ethnic differences observed among women. |
| NSAL | DSM-IV | Lifetime [12] | Yes | No | AA = CB | No ethnic differences observed among women. | |
| Bipolar Disorder I, II | NSAL | DSM-IV | 12 mo., Lifetime [23] | Yes | No | AA ≥ CB = NHW | Rates of bipolar disorder are sometimes higher for AA women. |
| NSAL | DSM-IV | Lifetime [12] | Yes | No | AA = CB | No ethnic differences observed among women. | |
| Any Mood Disorder | NSAL | DSM-IV | 12 mo. [24], Lifetime [12,24,32] |
Yes | Yes | AA = CB; U.S.-born CB > Foreign-born CB |
No ethnic differences observed among women. Foreign-born status appears protective for women. |
| Anxiety Disorders | |||||||
| Agoraphobia | NSAL | DSM-IV | 12 mo. [25], Lifetime [12] | Yes | No | CB = AA = NHW | No ethnic difference observed among women. |
| Post-traumatic Stress Disorder | NESARC | DSM-IV TR | Lifetime [33] | No | No | NHB = NHW | No ethnic differences observed among women. |
| NSAL | DSM-IV | 12 mo. [25] | Yes | No | CB = AA = NHW | No ethnic differences observed among women. | |
| NSAL | DSM-IV | Lifetime [12] | Yes | No | AA > CB | AA women have higher prevalence of PTSD. | |
| Social Phobia | NSAL | DSM-IV | 12 mo. [25] | Yes | No | NHW > CB = AA | White women have highest rates of social phobia |
| General Anxiety Disorder | NSAL | DSM-IV | 12 mo. [25], Lifetime [12] | Yes | No | NHW > CB = AA | White women have the highest rates of GAD. |
| Panic Disorder | NSAL | DSM-IV | 12 mo. [25], Lifetime [12] | Yes | No | CB = AA = NHW | No ethnic differences observed among women. |
| Any Anxiety Disorder | NSAL | DSM-IV | 12 mo. [24], Lifetime [12,24,32] |
Yes | Yes | AA > CB; U.S.-born CB > Foreign-born CB |
AA women have higher rates of anxiety disorders compared to CB women. Foreign-born status appears protective for women. |
| Substance Use Disorders | |||||||
| Alcohol Abuse | ECA b | DSM-III | 6 mo. [6,28] | No | No | Black = White | There are few racial differences in the prevalence of alcohol disorders among Black and White women. |
| NESARC | DSM-IV | 12 mo. [7] | No | No | Black < White | ||
| NSAL | DSM-IV | Lifetime [12] | Yes | No | AA > CB | AA women have higher rates of alcohol abuse | |
| Alcohol Dependence | NESARC | DSM-IV | 12 mo., Lifetime [7,8] | No | No | Black = White | No racial differences among women. |
| NSAL | DSM-IV | Lifetime [12] | Yes | No | AA = CB | No ethnic differences among women. | |
| Drug Abuse | ECA c | DSM-III | 6 mo. [28] | No | No | Black > White | Rates of drug use are sometimes higher for black women than for white women |
| NSAL | DSM-IV | Lifetime [12] | Yes | No | AA = CB | No ethnic differences among women. | |
| Drug Dependence | ECAc | DSM-III | 6 mo. [28] | No | No | Black = White | No racial differences among women. |
| NSAL | DSM-IV | Lifetime [12] | Yes | No | AA = CB | No ethnic differences among women. | |
| Any Substance Use Disorder | NSAL | DSM-IV | 12 mo. [24,26], Lifetime [12,24,26,32] |
Yes | Yes | AA > CB; U.S.-born CB > Foreign-born CB |
AA women have higher rates of substance disorders compared to CB women. Foreign-born status appears protective for women. |
| Any of the Above Disorders | NSAL | DSM-IV | 12 mo. [24], Lifetime [12,24] |
Yes | Yes | AA > CB; U.S.-born CB > Foreign-born CB |
Rates of having at least one measured disorder are higher for AA women compared to CB women. Foreign-born status appears protective. |
Abbreviations. ECA = Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study (1980–1983); NCS = National Comorbidity Survey (1990–1992); NCS-R = National Comorbidity Survey Replication (2001–2003); NSAL = National Survey of American Life (2001–2003); NESARC = National Epidemiologic Study of Alcohol and Related Conditions, Wave I (2001–2002); AA = African American; CB = Caribbean Black; NHW = Non-Hispanic White; DSM-IV = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition a Number in bracket refers to bibliographic reference; b Rates of alcohol or dependence; c Rates of drug abuse or dependence.