Disability and comorbidity among major depressive disorder and double depression in African–American adults

AbstractBackground udies have examined differences in disability and comorbity among major depressive disorder (MDD), dysthymia, and double depression in African–Americans (AA). s ndary analysis was performed on AA in the National Survey of American Life. Interviews occurred 2001–2003. A four stage national area probability sampling was performed. DSM-IV-TR diagnoses were obtained with a modified version of the World Health Organizationʹs expanded version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Disability was measured by interview with the World Health Organizationʹs Disability Assessment Schedule II. s ed to non-depressed AA, AA endorsing MDD (t=19.0, p=0.0001) and double depression (t=18.7, p=0.0001) reported more global disability; AA endorsing MDD (t=8.5, p=0.0063) reported more disability in the getting around domain; AA endorsing MDD (t=19.1, p=0.0001) and double depression (t=12.1, p=0.0014) reported more disability in the life activities domain. AA who endorsed double depression reported similar disability and comorbidities with AA who endorsed MDD. Few AA endorsed dysthymia. tions as a cross-sectional study subject to recall bias. The NSAL did not measure minor depression. sions rrent study supports the idea of deleting distinct chronic subtypes of depression and consolidating them into a single category termed chronic depression.