@article{ref1,
title="Exploration of depressive symptoms in African American cancer patients",
journal="Journal of mental health",
year="2015",
author="Zhang, Amy Y. and Gary, Faye A. and Zhu, Hui",
volume="24",
number="6",
pages="351-356",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Accurately assessing depression in African American cancer patients is difficult because of the similarities of physical symptoms observed in cancer and depression. <br><br>AIM: To identify universal and distinctive depressive symptoms in African American cancer patients. <br><br>METHODS: Seventy-four cancer patients (34 depressed and 23 non-depressed African Americans, and 17 depressed Whites) were interviewed. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted. <br><br>RESULTS: Compared to non-depressed African Americans, depressed African Americans reported irritability, social isolation, insomnia, fatigue and crying (p ≤ 0.05) more frequently over time. Compared to depressed Whites, they reported sadness, frustration and intrusive thoughts less frequently (p ≤ 0.05), but insomnia and fatigue more frequently (p ≤ 0.05) during cancer treatment. There was little racial difference at the time of interview. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Depressed African American cancer patients may benefit from more culturally sensitive depression measures that consider symptoms of irritability, social isolation and altered expressions of depressive mood.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0963-8237",
doi="10.3109/09638237.2014.998806",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/09638237.2014.998806"
}