IntroductionThe World Health Organisation (WHO) predicts that depression will be the most common illness in the world by the year 2020. 1 It is also expected to be the second leading cause of disability, after heart diseases. 2 Sartorius reports that depression meets the criteria for classification as a major public health burden. 3 This is not surprising, since depression has been viewed for many years as the "common cold of mental illness". Despite this alarming situation, there is a paucity of research in this field in developing countries. A major reason for this has been the misconception, until recently, that such countries are relatively free of psychiatric problems, such as depression, which are encountered in industrialised nations. This perception arose from the belief that disorders such as depression were created by the excessive stress that was caused by technological developments. 4 Until relatively recently, attempts to obtain reliable information on depression in developing countries were hampered by the fact that in many, if not most cases, the research was conducted by "outsiders". The result was that misinterpretations occurred, owing to language difficulties and deficient knowledge of the cultures that were being investigated. 5 However, at present the value of cross-cultural research is generally recognised; and there is a greater awareness in respect of flawed research methodologies. It is also acknowledged that, as a result of globalisation, different cultures are becoming integrated, with value and belief systems from one culture being incorporated into other cultures. 6 Furthermore, research has shown that the "simplistic notion of a black-andwhite world" is no longer defensible (Jackson in Swanbrow). 7 This implies that even within one culture, several sub-cultures can exist, each with its own relatively unique characteristics. Against this background, Lopez and Guarniccia rightly point out that the primary aim of cross-cultural research is to enhance our understanding of general and culture-specific processes, and particularly the way in which interaction between these variables takes place in a specific context. 8 As far as depression is concerned, the interaction between culture and depression is multifaceted and complex. 5,9 Therefore, this correlation is not always easy to assess and interpret. An unfortunate consequence of this is the failure to recognise depressive symptoms, or the misidentification thereof. Cultural competence
AbstractObjective: Depression will be the most common mental disorder by 2020, and it is also expected to be the second leading cause of disability, after cardiac diseases. Moreover, depression is likely to be a major public health burden in the future. This study evaluates the influences of culture on the symptoms of depression among Sesotho speakers. Method: An evaluation of a sample of 100 participants diagnosed with depression was conducted, using the Psychiatric Interview Questionnaire. Results: It was found that depression among Sesotho speakers is ...
