Cultural factors and international epidemiology

The debate on the role of culture on psychiatric epidemiology has evolved considerably in the past two decades. There is now a general consensus that the integration of the universalist and culturally relativist approaches, and their methodologies, is required to generate a truly international psychiatric epidemiology. The large body of research investigating the influence of culture on the epidemiology of depression has produced a number of key findings: the clinical presentation of depression in all cultures is associated with multiple somatic symptoms of chronic duration; psychological symptoms, however, are important for diagnosis and can be easily elicited. The diagnostic differentiation between depression and anxiety in general health care settings is not clinically valid. Culturally appropriate terminology for depression can be identified and their use may improve levels of recognition and treatment compliance. It is also evident that culture is only one factor in the difference between, and within, human societies which has a bearing on the epidemiology of depression. Other factors, which may interact with culture, such as gender and income inequality, are major risk factors for depression. Future international research must focus on two themes: (i) intervention studies including cost-effectiveness outcomes; and (ii) research aiming to bridge the gap between regional public health priorities and the concern that psychiatrists have about depression.