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Comorbid Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Suicidal Behavior, and Substance Abuse Among Black Caribbeans in the U.S.A.

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine nativity and country of origin differences in comorbid mood (major depressive disorder, dysthymia, and bipolar I and II disorders) and anxiety (post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder) disorders among Black Caribbeans in the U.S.A. The paper also examines the relationship between comorbid psychiatric disorders and substance abuse disorders and suicidal behavior. Data are taken from the Black Caribbean sub-sample (N = 1,621) of the National Survey of American Life. Multinomial logistic regression and logistic regression analysis are used and odd ratios, relative risk ratios, and 95 % confidence intervals are presented. Seven percent (7.19 %) of respondents had comorbid mood and anxiety disorders, 8.66 % had a mood disorder only, and 11.46 % had an anxiety disorder only. First-generation Black Caribbeans were less likely than US-born respondents to have a lifetime mood or anxiety disorder and also less likely to have a lifetime substance disorder or a lifetime suicidal attempt. Black Caribbean men were more likely than Black Caribbean women to: (1) have anxiety disorders only versus neither mood or anxiety disorders, (2) to have a substance disorder, and (3) to have had a suicidal attempt. Lastly, Black Caribbeans with both mood and anxiety disorders have significantly higher rates of mental health services utilization. These and other findings are discussed in detail.

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Acknowledgments

The data on which this study is based is supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH; U01-MH57716) with supplemental support from the Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the University of Michigan. The preparation of this manuscript was supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging to Dr. Taylor (R01-AG18782 and P30-AG15281).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Robert Joseph Taylor, Marilyn Sinkewicz & Sean Joe

  2. School of Social Work, Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Ann W. Nguyen

  3. School of Social Work, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Linda M. Chatters

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  1. Robert Joseph Taylor
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  2. Ann W. Nguyen
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  3. Marilyn Sinkewicz
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  4. Sean Joe
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Correspondence to Robert Joseph Taylor.

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Taylor, R.J., Nguyen, A.W., Sinkewicz, M. et al. Comorbid Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Suicidal Behavior, and Substance Abuse Among Black Caribbeans in the U.S.A.. J Afr Am St 17, 409–425 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12111-012-9237-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12111-012-9237-y

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