The Effect of Race and Sex on the Variation of Diagnosis and Disposition in a Psychiatric Emergency Room

Effects of patient racial attribution on black clinicians' inferences

“…The finding of racial effects on case disposition itself is especially provocative because it reinforces the only available analogue data (Schwartz & Abramowitz, 1975), as well as naturalistic evidence consistent with such an interpretation (Gross et al, 1969;Yamamoto et al, 1967). Despite their relatively unfavorable assessment of the white-identified patient's level of functioning, the untraditional clinicians recommended slightly shorter-term therapy for him than for the black-identified patient.…”

“…Halleck's (1971) thoughtful overview of the topic was followed by a discussion of the vulnerability of mental health ideology to racial stereotyping (Thomas & Sillen, 1972). Gross et al (1969) concluded from their data that "as the sociocultural distance between the clinician and his patient increases, diagnoses become less accurate and dispositions more nonspecific (p. Perhaps not surprisingly, the research outcomes have tended to confirm the salience of the patient's race for white clinicians.…”

“…Halleck's (1971) thoughtful overview of the topic was followed by a discussion of the vulnerability of mental health ideology to racial stereotyping (Thomas & Sillen, 1972). Investigation has included the archival (Szasz, 1971), correlational (Bloombaum, Yamamoto, & James, 1968;Dorfman & Kleiner, 1962;Gross, Herbert, Knatterud, & Donner, 1969;Yamamoto, James, Bloombaum, & Hattem, 1967), and experimental (Schwartz & Abramowitz, 1975). Perhaps not surprisingly, the research outcomes have tended to confirm the salience of the patient's race for white clinicians.…”

“…Perhaps not surprisingly, the research outcomes have tended to confirm the salience of the patient's race for white clinicians. Gross et al (1969) concluded from their data that "as the sociocultural distance between the clinician and his patient increases, diagnoses become less accurate and dispositions more nonspecific (p. 638).…”

Psychiatric emergency clinics in Iceland 1983

“…from the U.S.A.) have reported a majority of women (see Table VI). Furthermore, sex does not appear to influence disposal of patients (5,6,7), although Errera et al (8) and Gross et al (9) found that men were more frequently admitted to hospital. Age: Most investigations have found a comparable age range for those who attend emergency services.…”