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This paper presents findings on depressive symptomatology among 3,118 Mexican-American adults who participated in the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES). In 1982-1984, the National Institute of Mental Health Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was administered to Mexican Americans aged 20-74 years as part of the HHANES examination component. Respondents reported in either English or Spanish on both the presence and persistence of depressive symptoms during the week prior to the interview. The caseness rate (high levels of depressive symptoms) was 13.3%. Factors associated with increased risk of high levels of depressive symptoms were female sex, low educational achievement, low income, and US birth combined with Anglo-oriented acculturation. There were no significant differences by language. The relatively low prevalence rate and the increased risk associated with US birth/Anglo-oriented acculturation indicate the need for more multifactor studies and the investigation of possible additional factors that may contribute to the mental health of Mexican Americans.

Studies investigating the association between the risk of schizophrenia and season of birth are reviewed and the association clearly established. This association cannot be explained on the basis of age-incidence or age-prevalence artifacts. Other studies suggest there may be an association between bipolar disorder and season of birth. The leading theory in explaining the season of birth phenomenon is that a seasonal factor (such as viral infection, malnutrition, vitamin deficiency, prenatal or obstetrical complications, or ambient temperature) can damage an infant's brain and thereby predispose the child to later development of psychosis. Evidence suggests that the seasonal effect is associated with a subgroup of schizophrenics who have early onset of psychosis, less genetic loading than other schizophrenics, and better prognosis. Case-control studies are needed comparing winterborn to nonwinter-born schizophrenics.

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