Comorbidity: meaning and uses in cross-cultural clinical research

American Indians and Alaska Natives were the subject of a workshop sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health and the Indian Health Service. Comorbidity of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse is highly prevalent in these two populations, and this was the focus of the meeting. This paper introduces the topic of psychiatric comorbidity, and considers the topics of culture, psychiatric diagnosis, and assessment. Future research directions and a brief summary of the papers presented at the workshop, which are included in this issue, are provided.