• Nelda Mier, Anabel Bocanegra-Alonso, Dongling Zhan, Suojin Wang, Steven M Stoltz, Rosa I Acosta-Gonzalez, and Miguel A Zuniga.
• Department of Social and Behavioral Health, School of Rural Public Health, TX, USA. nmier@srph.tamhsc.edu
• J Am Board Fam Med. 2008 May 1; 21 (3): 223-33.

BackgroundDepression affects more Hispanics with type 2 diabetes than other ethnic groups. This exploratory, binational study examined the prevalence and correlates of clinical depressive symptoms in Hispanics of Mexican origin with type 2 diabetes living on both sides of the Texas Mexico border.MethodsTwo binational samples, consisting of 172 adult patients of Mexican origin with type 2 diabetes in South Texas and 200 from the Northeastern region of Mexico, were compared. Logistic regression analyses were used to test personal and social correlates to clinical depressive symptoms.ResultsThe rate of clinical depressive symptoms was similar in both South Texas and Northeastern Mexico patients (39% and 40.5%, respectively). Gender, education, emergency department visits, and burden of diabetes symptoms were predictors of clinical depressive symptoms in the South Texas sample. Among respondents in the Northeastern Mexico sample, the only statistically significant correlate to clinical depressive symptoms was the burden of diabetes symptoms.ConclusionsDiabetes and depression must be addressed as priorities in diabetes initiatives at the US Mexico border region. Further research is warranted to examine the extent and impact of involving family practice physicians from both sides of the border in depression screenings among patients with type 2 diabetes.

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