Comorbid mood and anxiety disorders, suicidal behavior, and substance abuse among Black Caribbeans in the U.S.A.

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, agora- phobia, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, and obsessive compulsive disor- der) 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 (N0 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.