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Perceptions of Depression in a Community Sample in Dubai

Although words describing depression may not exist across all cultures, the symptoms of depression do. In a study of the Arab community in Dubai, we conducted four focus groups, two each with males and females, to identify the terms and descriptions people use for depression, what symptoms they associate with it, their views on its causes, and their strategies for coping with it. All individuals knew someone who met the description of depression. The key symptoms of depression identified included: social withdrawal, feeling afraid, irritability, loss of sleep, loss of appetite, sadness, crying, excessive thinking, feeling bored and loss of interest in sex. Causes of depression identified included: stresses in the family and in the society, relationships, lack of support, marital conflicts, and problems with children. The most effective coping strategy identified was that of going to religious places and talking to religious professionals.