Self-reported psychiatric symptoms among black, Hispanic, and white outpatients

Examined ethnic differences among black, Hispanic, and white applicants for outpatient psychotherapy, using symptoms self-reported on the Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL 90-R). The relationship between self-reported severity of symptoms and therapist-reported severity of psychiatric diagnoses also was examined in order to assess the utility of SCL 90-R as a predictor of diagnostic severity for these ethnic groups. One hundred sixty-five patients completed the SCL 90-R. The patients were predominantly in the low-income social classes. A significant ethnic effect was found on several symptom dimensions, with black patients less likely to report symptoms than Hispanic or white patients. Hispanic patients were found to report the highest symptom levels on 8 of 11 measures. While, overall, therapist diagnostic severity was related significantly to self-reported symptomatology, the relationship was strongest for white patients, significant but less strong for Hispanic patients, and not significant for black patients.