A cross cultural study of symptomatology of depression--eastern versus western patients

The symptoms exhibited by 100 depressed patients from Western India were studied. A statistical comparison was made of these symptoms with the symptoms of British depressed patients, reported in two studies from Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The symptoms in this group are similar to what has been reported for the Indian population in general except for paranoid features, which were less common. Compared with depressed patients from North India, somatic symptoms were significantly more common, while late insomnia, reduction in work and activities, and retardation were significant less frequent. Compared to South Indian depressed patients, depressed mood and hypochondriasis were significantly greater, and suicidal tendency and diurnal variation significantly less. Amongst Indian depressed patients generally, somatic symptoms, hypochondriasis, anxiety and agitation are present in a significantly larger percentage of patients, but guilt feelings, obsessional and paranoid symptoms are significantly less frequent, compared with British depressed patients.