Incidence and treatment variations between negroes and caucasians in mental illness.

In explorations that compare racial groups, great difficulties are encountered due to lack of similarities in familial structures, demographic variations, and anxiety in the Negro group engendered by prejudicial attitudes of other groups.As compared to the Caucasian group, there is a disparity of knowledge with regard to causes and cures, with much more reluctance on the part of the Negro group to seek treatment. Once admitted to a hospital, Negroes are not released at a comparable rate and final release rates are lower than for other patients. The Negro male is held longer than the Negro female, and in hospitals Negroes are treated as if less accessible to psychotherapy. Therapists' attitudes are colored by impressions and surplus meanings attached to certain labels, and they may be overly sympathetic, patronizing, or hostile to these patients. Following reorganization, acceptance by his own peer group and reintegration into his own milieu is greater for Negroes, but is much less so when the overall social structure is considered.