Graham Mellsop1, Barry Smith. 1. Waikato Clinical School, Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, New Zealand. mellsopg@waikatodhb.govt.nz
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To inform the debate on the relationship between gender and depression by examining clinicians' ratings on selected HoNos items in two cultural groups. METHOD: Scores on items 1 (overactivity/aggression) and 2 (depression) as recorded by clinicians in the CAOS study of more than 12,000 unselected New Zealand psychiatric service users were analysed by gender and self identified ethnicity. RESULTS: The lowest ratings for depression and highest for overactivity/agression were assigned to Māori males. Female Māori, were rated next, followed by male non-Māori. Female non-Māori were rated highest on depression and lowest on overactivity/agression. CONCLUSIONS: Amongst the hypotheses to explain these findings are those relating to service utilization, rater bias, criteria bias, and cultural pathoplastic effects. These questions need answers.
OBJECTIVE: To inform the debate on the relationship between gender and depression by examining clinicians' ratings on selected HoNos items in two cultural groups. METHOD: Scores on items 1 (overactivity/aggression) and 2 (depression) as recorded by clinicians in the CAOS study of more than 12,000 unselected New Zealand psychiatric service users were analysed by gender and self identified ethnicity. RESULTS: The lowest ratings for depression and highest for overactivity/agression were assigned to Māori males. Female Māori, were rated next, followed by male non-Māori. Female non-Māori were rated highest on depression and lowest on overactivity/agression. CONCLUSIONS: Amongst the hypotheses to explain these findings are those relating to service utilization, rater bias, criteria bias, and cultural pathoplastic effects. These questions need answers.