Black Americans and psychopathology: An overview of research and theory.

Abstract

Blacks suffer the double jeopardy of belonging to a denigrated race and a dispossessed social class. The double jeopardy seems to be reflected in the greater social stressors with which most blacks live in society, the institutional inequities they encounter in mental health services, and the racial bias of professionals to whom they come, or are brought, for treatment. This article critically evaluates studies on this issue and their underlying theoretical debate.