The purpose of this study was to examine the levels and nature of psycholog
ical distress and depression among Russian-Jewish emigres in primary care.
Fifty-seven consecutive patients at the primary care clinic were assessed w
ith the Hamilton Depression Scale (Ham-D). The subjects completed self-rati
ng scales, including the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Life Orientation
Test, Beck Hopelessness Scale, Attributional Style Questionnaire, and Snait
h-Hamilton pleasure Scale. Data on demographics and physical complaints wer
e collected and analyzed. Of the patients studied, 82.5% experienced psycho
logical distress (BDI greater than or equal to 10), and 43.9% had clinicall
y significant depressive symptoms (Ham-D greater than or equal to 17). BDI
and Ham-D scores were significantly correlated with the number of psychosom
atic complaints, hopelessness, lack of optimism, anhedonia, and dysfunction
al attributional style. The distressed;but not depressed, patients had pres
ervation of hedonic capacity. The authors found a high rate of depression b
ased upon Ham-D scores among the Russian-Jewish emigres in primary care. Th
e authors suggest that this high rate is attributable to a culturally speci
fic tendency to express distress in somatic terms, The nature of distress w
as phenomenologically similar to demoralization.