Health
Spanish-speaking Hispanics have less response to antidepressants
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Nov. 24, 2008
Depressed Hispanics who primarily speak Spanish were slower to respond to an antidepressant and less likely to go into remission than those whose main language was English, according to a study in the November Psychiatric Services.
Researchers analyzed data on Hispanic participants from the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression or STAR*D trial. Those who spoke Spanish were older, more likely to be female, had less education and made less money than did English-speakers. They were also more likely to be seen in primary care than in a psychiatric clinic. The differences in medication response disappeared when researchers adjusted for these baseline factors, and the authors suspect that speaking primarily Spanish may be a marker of lower socioeconomic status and indicate a need for more intervention.
"These results are important for clinicians and patients to be aware that Spanish-speaking Hispanics with depression who come from lower social economic groups may need more than medication for depression," said Ira Lesser, MD, lead author and an investigator with the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/11/24/hlbf1124.htm.