Patient ethnicity and diagnosis of emotional disorders in women

Ethnic background and family resources have not been sufficiently examined in relation to emotional disorders and their treatment in primary care settings. This study examined the diagnosis and management of psychological disorders in family practice patients to explore how ethnicity may affect the diagnosis and treatment of emotional disorders.

A random sample of family practice patients was selected from 1 year of office visits. The charts of 100 African-American and 100 Caucasian women were audited for primary and secondary diagnoses, presenting symptoms, prescriptions, psychotherapy referrals, history of domestic violence and substance use, and family and demographic characteristics. Chi-square tests of association and multiple regression were used to analyze the data.

Ethnic background was significantly associated with a diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder; 44% of Caucasian patients were diagnosed with an emotional disorder, compared with 24% of African-Americans. Proportionately more Caucasian patients with psychiatric diagnoses were treated with psychotropic medications. Patient race, marital status, and insurance status explained 15% of the variance in psychiatric diagnoses.

Women's ethnicity is significantly associated with the diagnosis of emotional disorders and their treatment.