AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY OF NEURASTHENIA IN CHINESE-AMERICANS IN LOS-ANGELES

This study examined the prevalence and clinical features of ICD-10-def ined neurasthenia (NT) in Chinese-Americans and its relations to other psychiatric disorders, In this community epidemiological survey, the enhanced Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), with a s upplemental NT module, was administered to 1,747 Chinese-Americans. se lected with a stratified cluster sampling method, The SCL-90-R was als o used for measuring psychiatric morbidity and symptoms. Dimensions of social stress and social support were measured by established instrum ents. A total of 112 ICD-10 NT subjects (6.4%) were identified, Of the se, 63 (56.3%) did not experience any current and lifetime DSM-III-R d iagnoses, yielding a 12-month or lifetime prevalence rate of ''pure'' NT of 3.61%. This rate was much higher than any of the other psychiatr ic disorders in this sample. Compared with normal subjects, ''pure'' N T subjects had significantly higher SCL-90-R total and factor scores, experienced more psychosocial stress, and perceived less social suppor t (P <.05 or.01). Compared with subjects with depression and anxiety d isorders, ''pure'' NT cases reported significantly less SCL-90-R psych ological symptoms (P<.05 or.01), but had a strikingly similar elevatio n in the somatization subscale score. These data suggest that NT is a distinctive clinical condition overlapping only partially with the oth er better recognized diagnostic entities. In view of its high prevalen ce and the salience of its impact on the health of those afflicted, it is imperative that concerted research efforts be made to further eluc idate the temporal stability, natural course, and outcome of such a co ndition. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.