Study: Depression Strikes One in Five Hispanic and Black Arthritics

Major depression strikes nearly one in five African Americans and Hispanics who have osteoarthritis.

Major depression is characterized by depressed mood and/or the loss of interest or pleasure in most activities for a period of at least two weeks.

Researcher Dr. Luis Espinoza, of the department of medicine at Louisiana State University, said the findings underscore the importance of screening osteoarthritis patients for depression and monitoring their symptoms during pain treatment.

"If depression symptoms do not improve with pain treatment, clinicians may consider a treatment specifically for depression," added Espinoza.

The study involved 322 African Americans and 318 Hispanics diagnosed with osteoarthritis whose level of depression was assessed by a standard screening tool to diagnose psychiatric disorders.

Major depression was found in 19.3 percent of American Americans
and 19.2 percent of Hispanics. Among patients who reported any depressive symptoms, 73 percent of African Americans and 65 percent of Hispanics reported that the symptoms made it at least somewhat difficult to function.

The results of the study were presented May 21 at the American Psychiatric Association (APA) annual meeting in San Francisco.

Other sources: Pfizer