Interrelations of psychiatric diagnosis, psychological profile and ethnic background

Mental illness in minority women

Explored whether psychiatric diagnostic differences exist between male and female, black, white and Hispanic-American patients seen in the Department of Psychiatry/Community Mental Health Center of a major hospital in the South Bronx, New York. Admission data on almost 2,000 patients furnished demographic and diagnostic characteristics of the patients. Sex and ethnic differences were found. Suggestions are offered as to why various subpopulations are perceived differently.

Ethnicity and psychiatric diagnosis

Examined diagnostic differences between black, white, and Hispanic-American patients (N = 1968) seen in psychiatric outpatient clinics of a large hospital in the South Bronx. Distribution of diagnoses also was compared statistically in relation to the diagnostician's ethnicity. Results indicated statistical differences between the patient's ethnicity and psychiatric diagnosis, as well as interactions between the therapists' ethnicity and these variables. Implications of the findings were discussed, and suggestions were offered for future research.