ERIC Number: EJ851834
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0748-9633
EISSN: N/A
Disproportionate Diagnosis of Mental Disorders among African American versus European American Clients: Implications for Counseling Theory, Research, and Practice
Schwartz, Robert C.; Feisthamel, Kevin P.
Journal of Counseling & Development, v87 n3 p295-301 Sum 2009
Research generated by the professions of psychiatry and psychology reveals that African Americans are more often diagnosed with specific mental disorders (e.g., psychotic disorders) compared with European Americans. No research to date, however, has investigated whether professional counselors make differential diagnoses according to client race. This study (N = 1,648) found that counselors diagnosed African Americans with psychotic and childhood disorders at a disproportionately high rate. Implications for counseling theory and practice are discussed.
Descriptors: African Americans, Mental Disorders, Psychiatry, Counselors, Racial Bias, Disproportionate Representation, Whites, Theories, Counseling Theories, Clinical Diagnosis
American Counseling Association. 5999 Stevenson Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304. Tel: 800-422-2648; Tel: 800-347-6647; Fax: 800-473-2329; Web site: http://www.counseling.org/Publications/Journals.aspx
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Counselors
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A