Clinical data from a psychiatric service to a group of native people

Clinical data are reported from a psychiatric service to Native Canadian patients, mainly Cree Indians. Eighteen out of 41 had a clinical diagnosis of depression, three of mania and only one of schizophrenia. Thirty-seven percent used alcohol to excess but alcoholism was rarely the primary diagnosis. Reasons are given for the belief that schizophrenia has been over-diagnosed in Native populations in the past. Seventy-eight percent spoke Cree/Inuit as their primary language. The patients usually held their parents in high regard despite often reporting that they were alcoholic. In reply to tentative enquiries into feelings about their Native identity, only 5% of the patients indicated a preference for another identity, but this figure is only considered to give a minimum estimate of the possible dissatisfaction with being Native in Canada today.