Diagnostic Patterns in Latino, African American, and European American Psychiatric Patients

Abstract

Latinos in this study were more likely to be clinically diagnosed as having major depression than were other ethnic groups. Further research is needed to determine the reasons for these systematic differences. Possible explanations include (1) self-selection, (2) culturally determined expression of symptoms, (3) difficulties in the accurate application of DSM-IV diagnostic criteria to Latinos, (4) bias related to lack of clinicians' cultural competence, and (5) imprecision inherent in the use of unstructured interviews, possibly combined with clinician bias. Additional research is required to determine the generalizability, accuracy, and applicability of these findings and their possible mechanisms.