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Depressive and anxiety disorders in different ethnic groups

A population based study among native Dutch, and Turkish, Moroccan and Surinamese migrants in Amsterdam

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Abstract

Introduction

To explore ethnic differences in psychopathology, this study examined the prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders among different ethnic groups in Amsterdam and determined whether ethnic differences can be explained by socio-demographic differences.

Methods

A population-based sample of 321 Dutch, 231 Turkish, 191 Moroccan, 87 Surinamese/Antilleans was interviewed by well-trained bilingual interviewers, using the CIDI 2.1. Educational level and income were used as indicators of socio-economic status.

Results

The weighed 1-month prevalence of depressive and/or anxiety disorders was 6.6% (Dutch), 18.7% (Turkish), 9.8% (Moroccans) and 1.2 % (Surinamese/Antilleans). Among Moroccans, the prevalence of affective disorders seemed higher in men than in women, among the Turkish the opposite was observed. Ethnic differences in prevalence could not be explained by socioeconomic differences.

Conclusion

Turkish women and men and Moroccan men in Amsterdam seem to have a higher risk of current affective disorders. Ethnicity is an independent predictor of common mental disorders in the Netherlands.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Municipality of Amsterdam, and the mental health care institutions Mentrum, Buitenamstel and De Meren for financing the study. We also thank the respondents and interviewers for the valuable information they provided, Job Meijs, Reen Halkema and Jan Smit for their contribution to the field work, Peter Mesu for assisting in the data-analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Municipal Health Service Amsterdam Epidemiology, Documentation and Health Promotion, PO Box 2200, 1000 CE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Matty A. S. de Wit & Arnoud P. Verhoeff

  2. Dept. of Public Mental Health Care, Municipal Health Service, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Wilco C. Tuinebreijer

  3. Mentrum Mental Health Care, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Jack Dekker

  4. Dept. of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, GGZ Buitenamstel, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Aart-Jan T. F. Beekman & Brenda W. J. H. Penninx

  5. Mental Health Care, AMC de Meren, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Wim H. M. Gorissen

  6. Altrecht Institute for Mental Health Care, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Agnes C. Schrier

  7. HealthNet/Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Ivan H. Komproe

  8. Dept. of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Arnoud P. Verhoeff

Authors
  1. Matty A. S. de Wit
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  2. Wilco C. Tuinebreijer
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  3. Jack Dekker
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  4. Aart-Jan T. F. Beekman
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  5. Wim H. M. Gorissen
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  6. Agnes C. Schrier
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  7. Brenda W. J. H. Penninx
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  8. Ivan H. Komproe
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  9. Arnoud P. Verhoeff
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matty A. S. de Wit.

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de Wit, M.A.S., Tuinebreijer, W.C., Dekker, J. et al. Depressive and anxiety disorders in different ethnic groups. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 43, 905–912 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0382-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0382-5

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