Inconsistencies in diagnosis and symptoms among bilingual and English-speaking Latinos and Euro-Americans

Psychiatr Serv. 2009 Oct;60(10):1379-82. doi: 10.1176/ps.2009.60.10.1379.

Abstract

Objective: Little information is available about accuracy of diagnoses in clinical care for affective and other major mental disorders experienced by Latino patients. This study addressed two central research questions: Do Latinos have disproportionate rates of clinical diagnoses of major depression based on structured diagnostic interviews? Are diagnostic patterns consistent with patient profiles and medical record information?

Methods: A total of 259 bilingual Latino, monolingual English-speaking Latino, and Euro-American patients aged 18 to 45 years with a history of severe depression or psychotic symptoms were compared across three clinical sites by using structured interviews.

Results: Compared with Euro-Americans, bilingual Latinos had significantly higher rates of major depression and significantly lower levels of mania. No significant differences were found between monolingual English-speaking Latinos and Euro-Americans.

Conclusions: Results suggest that the diagnostic process is affected by an apparent association with cultural-linguistic influences, notably speaking English as a second language.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Diagnosis, Differential*
  • Female
  • Hispanic or Latino*
  • Humans
  • Interview, Psychological
  • Male
  • Medical Records
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology
  • Mental Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Multilingualism*
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'*
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Young Adult