A qualitative comparison of DSM depression criteria to language used by older church-going African-Americans*. (2nd September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Akinyemi, Esther; Watkins, Daphne C.; Kavanagh, Janet; Johnson-Lawrence, Vicki; Lynn, Shana; Kales, Helen C.
• Is Part Of: Aging & mental health. Volume 22:Number 9(2018)
• Page Start: 1155
• Page End: 1161
• Publication Date: 2018-09-02
• Subjects: Depression -- African-Americans -- spirituality -- DSM -- older adults; Older people -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Geriatric psychiatry -- Periodicals; Older people -- Psychology -- Periodicals; Aging -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Aged -- psychology -- periodicals; Mental Health -- periodicals; Mental Health Services -- periodicals; Aging -- psychology -- periodicals; Aged, 80 and over -- psychology -- periodicals; 618.97689
• DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2017.1337717
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1360-7863

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objective: Depression in late life is associated with substantial suffering, disability, suicide risk, and decreased health-related quality of life. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), a depression diagnosis is derived from a constellation of symptoms that may be described differently by different people. For example, the DSM language may be inadequate in capturing these symptoms in certain populations such as African-Americans, whose rates of depression misdiagnosis is high. Methods: This study reports the findings from a church-based, qualitative study with older African-Americans ( n = 50) regarding the language they use when discussing depression and depression treatment, and how this compares to the DSM-IV depression criteria. Content analyses of the in-depth discussions with African-American male and female focus group participants resulted in a deeper understanding of the language they used to describe depression. This language was then mapped onto the DSM-IV depression criteria. Results: While some words used by the focus group participants mapped well onto the DSM-IV criteria, some of the language did not map well, such as language describing irritability, negative thought processes, hopelessness, loneliness, loss of control, helplessness, and social isolation. Conclusions: The focus group setting provided insight to the language used by older, church-going African-Americans to describe depression. Implications include the advantages of using qualitative data to help inform clinical encounters with older African-Americans.