Major depression in China-to-US immigrants and US-born Chinese Americans: testing a hypothesis from culture-gene co-evolutionary theory of mental disorders

Meta-analysis of association between TPH2 single nucleotide poiymorphism and depression

Tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) plays a crucial role in the human brain. Although the association between the TPH2 gene and depression has been suggested in previous meta-analyses, studies based on Chinese subjects are often neglected. Therefore, we included some previous studies based on Chinese subjects to explore the relationship between TPH2 polymorphisms and depression via conducting an extensive meta-analysis. We reviewed 40 research papers that included data on TPH2 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 5766 patients with depression and 5988 healthy subjects. The analysis showed an association between polymorphisms in the TPH2 gene and depression, and some results were significant in 24 studies that included Chinese Han study participants. The results of our meta-analysis showed that rs4570625, rs17110747, rs120074175, rs4290270, rs120074175, and rs4290270 may be significantly associated with depression, and that rs11178997 (A/A genotype) may be a significant risk factor for depression in the Chinese subjects. Based on the results of this study, biological experiments should be performed in the future to explore how different SNPs affect depression.

Factors Associated with Depression Among Immigrants in the U.S

Migrants come to the United States from communities affected by war, conflict, or economic crisis. They are vulnerable to poor physical and mental health. To assess the prevalence of depression and related risk factors amongst immigrants in the United States. Data from the 2017 National Health Interview Surveys was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows. Of the 77,842 individuals aged 18 years and above who participated in the survey, 4676 (6.0%) were immigrants. Prevalence of depression among immigrants was 1.1% compared to 0.9% for U.S citizens. Being an immigrant reduced the odds of depression by 18%; [OR 0.82 (C.I) of 0.60-1.12]. However, males were more likely than females to be depressed [OR 1.20 (1.02-1.41). This study revealed that the prevalence of depression is low among immigrants. This underscores the need for more studies to understand why this population is doing better despite the stressful physical conditions they experience.

Children's Emotion Knowledge and Internalizing Problems: The Moderating Role of Culture

This study examined in a cross-cultural context the prospective relation between children's emotion knowledge and internalizing problems. European American ( N = 33) and immigrant Chinese children ( N = 22) and their mothers participated. Children's emotion knowledge was assessed at three-and-a-half years of age using a task to elicit their understanding of situational antecedents of discrete emotions. Mothers reported on children's internalizing problems using the Behavior Assessment System Children (BASC) when children were seven years of age. The relation of children's emotion knowledge to internalizing problems was moderated by culture. Whereas early emotion knowledge was associated with decreased internalizing problems later on for European American children, it was associated with increased internalizing problems for immigrant Chinese children. The findings shed critical light on the different functional meanings of emotion knowledge across cultures.

The generational gap: Mental disorder prevalence and disability amongst first and second generation immigrants in Australia

Despite unprecedented numbers of migrants internationally, little is known about the mental health needs of immigrant groups residing in common countries of resettlement. The majority of studies support the 'healthy migrant hypothesis', but few studies have examined: 1) shifts in prevalence patterns across generations; 2) how prevalence relates to disability in immigrant groups. Our study examined the prevalence of common mental disorders and disability in first and second generation migrants to Australia. Twelve-month and lifetime prevalence rates of affective, anxiety, and substance use disorders were obtained from the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing (N = 8841). First generation immigrants (born overseas) and second generation immigrants (both parents overseas) from non-English and English speaking backgrounds were compared to an Australian-born cohort. Disability was indexed by days out of role and the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS12). First generation immigrants with non-English speaking (1G-NE) backgrounds evidenced reduced prevalence of common mental disorders relative to the Australian-born population (adjusted odds ratio 0.5 [95% CI 0.38-0.66]). This lower prevalence was not observed in second generation immigrant cohorts. While overall levels of disability were equal between all groups (p > 0.05), mental health-related disability was elevated in the 1G-NE group relative to the Australian-born group (p = 0.012). The findings challenge the overarching notion of the "healthy migrant" and suggest a dissociation between reduced prevalence and elevated mental health-related disability amongst first generation immigrants with non-English speaking backgrounds. These findings highlight the heterogeneous psychiatric needs of first and second generation immigrants.

Emotional and Behavioral Disorders in 1.5th Generation, 2nd Generation Immigrant Children, and Foreign Adoptees

Existing theories (e.g., acculturative stress theory) cannot adequately explain why mental disorders in immigrants are less prevalent than in non-immigrants. In this paper, the culture-gene co-evolutionary theory of mental disorders was utilized to generate a novel hypothesis that connection to heritage culture reduces the risk for mental disorders in immigrant children. Four groups of children aged 2-17 years were identified from the 2007 United States National Survey of Children's Health: 1.5th generation immigrant children (n = 1378), 2nd generation immigrant children (n = 4194), foreign adoptees (n = 270), and non-immigrant children (n = 54,877). The 1.5th generation immigrant children's connection to their heritage culture is stronger than or similar to the 2nd generation immigrants, while the foreign adoptees have little connection to their birth culture. Controlling for age, sex, family type and SES, the odds for having ADD/ADHD, Conduct Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, and Depression diagnosis were the lowest for the 1.5th generation immigrant children, followed by the 2nd generation immigrant children and the foreign adoptees. The foreign adoptees and non-adopted children were similar in the odds of having these disorders. Connection to heritage culture might be the underlying mechanism that explained recent immigrants' lower rates of mental disorders.

Prevalence of major depressive disorder and socio-demographic correlates: Results of a representative household epidemiological survey in Beijing, China

BACKGROUND

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most prevalent mental disorder in the general population and has been associated with socioeconomic factors. Beijing has undergone significant socioeconomic changes in last decade, however no large-scale community epidemiological surveys of MDD have been conducted in Beijing since 2003.

AIMS

To determine the prevalence of MDD and its socio-demographic correlates in a representative household sample of the general population in Beijing, China.

METHOD

Data were collected from the 2010 representative household epidemiological survey of mental disorders in Beijing. The multistage cluster random sampling method was used to select qualified subjects in 18 districts and counties, and then face-to-face interviews were administered using the Chinese version of Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis I Disorders-Patient Edition (SCID-I/P) during November 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

RESULTS

19,874 registered permanent residents were randomly identified and 16,032 (response rate=80.7%) completed face-to-face interviews. The time-point and life-time prevalence rates of MDD were estimated to be 1.10% (95% CI: 0.94-1.26%) and 3.56% (95% CI: 3.27-3.85%) respectively. Significant differences were found in sex, age, location of residence, marital status, education, employment status, personal/family monthly income, perception of family environment and relationship with others, when comparing residents with MDD to those without MDD. Those who were female, aged 45 or above, reported low family income, or reported an "average" or "poor" family environment were associated with a higher risk of MDD.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of MDD reported in this survey is relatively lower than that in other western countries. Female sex, age older than 45, low family income, and poor family environment appear to be independent risk factors for MDD.

Depression among Asian-American Adults in the Community: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

In this systematic review, we provide an overview of the literature on depression among Asian-Americans and explore the possible variations in depression prevalence estimates by methodological and demographic factors.

METHODS

Six databases were used to identify studies reporting a prevalence estimate for depression in Asian-American adults in non-clinical settings. Meta-analysis was used to calculate pooled estimates of rates of depression by assessment type. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed for subgroup analyses by gender, age, ethnicity, and other participant characteristics.

RESULTS

A total of 58 studies met the review criteria (n = 21.731 Asian-American adults). Heterogeneity across the studies was considerably high. The prevalence of major depression assessed via standardized clinical interviews ranged between 4.5% and 11.3%. Meta-analyses revealed comparable estimated prevalence rates of depression as measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (35.6%, 95% CI 27.6%-43.7%) and the Geriatric Depression Scale (33.1%, 95% CI 14.9%-51.3%). Estimates varied by Asian racial/ethnic group and other participant characteristics. Estimates of depression among special populations, which included maternity, caregivers, and homosexuals, were significantly higher than estimates obtained from other samples (58.8% vs 29.3%, p = .003). Estimates of depression among Korean and Filipino-Americans were similar (33.3%-34.4%); however, the estimates were twice as high as those for Chinese-Americans (15.7%; p = .012 for Korean, p = .049 for Filipino).

CONCLUSION

There appears to be wide variability in the prevalence rates of depression among Asian-Americans in the US. Practitioners and researchers who serve Asian-American adults need to be sensitive to the potential diversity of the expression of depression and treatment-seeking across Asian-American subgroups. Public health policies to increase Asian-American access to mental health care, including increased screening, are necessary. Further work is needed to determine whether strategies to reduce depression among specific Asian racial/ethnic groups is warranted.

New insights into the neurobiological mechanisms of major depressive disorders

OBJECTIVE

To review the current evidence about the neurobiological mechanisms in major depressive disorders (MDD) and the key findings from studies using neuroimaging tools and animal models.

METHOD

This paper gives an overview of the role of genetic and environmental factors in the pathophysiology of MDD and describes the structural changes in brain structures of depressed individuals. A closer look is given at the molecular processes and neurotransmitters implicated in this mental disorder. Moreover, this paper discusses key findings from recent research using animal models and their relevance for clinical applications.

RESULTS

Although the exact cause of MDD is not known, there is enough evidence showing that genetic, psychological and environmental factors significantly increase the risk of developing this disease. Individuals affected by MDD exhibit a reduced volume of structures such as the amygdala, hippocampus and basal ganglia, as well as altered level of neurotransmitters in the brain.

CONCLUSION

The studies presented in this review show promising results that could shed light on the molecular mechanisms of MDD. However, more work needs to be done to better understand this psychiatric disorder and promote the development of new treatment strategies.