Sociocultural domains of depression among indigenous populations in Latin America

Abstract

Not enough research has been carried out on depression up to now in Latin America. The knowledge that has resulted from research activities in the USA or Europe offers limited generalizability to other regions of the world, including Latin America. In the Andean highlands of Ecuador, we found very high rates of moderate and severe depressive symptoms, a finding that must be interpreted within its cultural context. Somatic manifestations of depression predominated over cognitive manifestations, and higher education level was protective against depression. These findings call for an appreciation of culturally specific manifestations of depression and the social factors that influence them. These factors must be further studied in order to give them the deserved priority, allocate resources appropriately, and formulate innovative psychosocial interventions.

Adapting an internet-delivered intervention for depression for a Colombian college student population: An illustration of an integrative empirical approach

“…Second, research supports the relevance of developing treatments based on diverse cultural groups' needs and contexts (Bernal, Jiménez-Chafey, & Domenech-Rodríguez, 2009; Chowdhary et al, 2014; Miranda et al, 2005). There exists cultural differences in the expression and understanding of depressive symptoms across cultures (Haroz et al, 2017; Karasz, 2005; Muñoz et al, 2005; Richards and Salamanca-Sanabria, 2014; Yusim et al, 2010). For example people from South America and Asia trend to express depression through somatic symptoms (e.g., pain, digestive problems), while Caucasian (Europeans) express depression using cognitive factors (e.g., beliefs, thoughts) (Parker et al, 2001; Richards and Salamanca-Sanabria, 2014; Yusim et al, 2010).…”

“…There exists cultural differences in the expression and understanding of depressive symptoms across cultures (Haroz et al, 2017; Karasz, 2005; Muñoz et al, 2005; Richards and Salamanca-Sanabria, 2014; Yusim et al, 2010). For example people from South America and Asia trend to express depression through somatic symptoms (e.g., pain, digestive problems), while Caucasian (Europeans) express depression using cognitive factors (e.g., beliefs, thoughts) (Parker et al, 2001; Richards and Salamanca-Sanabria, 2014; Yusim et al, 2010). Third, most outcome research of Evidence-Base Treatments are with Caucasian samples (Bernal and Scharró-del-Río, 2001; Chu and Leino, 2017; Griner and Smith, 2006; La Roche and Christopher, 2008), therefore the treatments are not necessarily generalisable to other ethnics groups (Chu and Leino, 2017; Lau, 2006).…”

Interoceptive dysfunction: Toward an integrated framework for understanding somatic and affective disturbance in depression.

“…At the same time, depression involves conspicuous somatic symptoms of appetite and weight change, sleep disturbance, and sexual dysfunction (DSM-5; APA, 2013; Beck, 1967; Devlin & Walsh, 1989; Paykel, 1977; Schuyler, 1974) as well as varied non-specific complaints such as fatigue, dizziness, pain, and headache (Jain, 2009; Kapfhammer, 2006; Simon et al, 1999). The latter are the primary indicators of depression in many cultures (Kim, 2010; Kleinman, 2004; Simon et al, 1999; Yusim et al, 2010) and are among the more common indicators of depression in children (McCauley, Carlson, & Calderon, 1991; Ryan et al, 1987). Somatic symptoms can be the first sign of a depressive episode (Beck, 1967) and are often the first and only symptoms presented in primary care settings (Kirmayer, 2001; Tylee & Ghandi, 2005).…”

A Look at Cultural Psychiatry in the 21st Century

“…These trends have greatly affected many countries and regions of the world (Ruiz, 2004a). In this respect, the process of acculturation (Berry, 2001;Berry, 2005;Dansen et al, 1988) and the role of acculturative stress (Ruiz, 2009;Ruiz et al, 2011;Yusim et al, 2010) need to be taken into serious consideration not only within psychiatry and mental health but also within medicine. In this regard, the roles of research and education/training are becoming issues of major importance not only in the 21st century but also for the future role of cultural psychiatry (Lim, 2006;Ruiz and Casas, 2009).…”