An Open-Label Study of SSRI Treatment in Depressed Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Women

Letter to the Editor

Sir: Symptoms of depression are common across cultures,but the clinical presentation of depression may differ fromcountry to country and, within the same country, differ betweenethnic groups. Among Hispanic patients, somatization is amore common presentation of depression than among non-Hispanicpatients with major depression, and an increased prevalenceof somatic symptoms in Hispanic patients with major depressionsuggests that they present more frequently at primarycare rather than psychiatric facilities. It is reported that Hispanicsubjects may be more sensitive to the somatic side effectsof pharmacotherapy.