Comparison of psychiatric diagnoses in three populations.

This report examines the differing types of psychiatric diagnoses served by different institutions as a result of differing social or institutional forces. Four-hundred-eighty-eight emotionally disturbed subjects from three different groups (competency to stand trial, chronic pain, and social security disability (SSI) applicants) were compared across psychiatric diagnostic categories. After adjusting for age, race, sex, education and marital status significant differences were found in the categories of affective disorders, schizophrenia, personality disorders and drug abuse. Interaction between institution and diagnosis is discussed.