Cross-cultural differences in demented geropsychiatric inpatients with behavioral disturbances.
OBJECTIVE
Cross-cultural differences in treatment and diagnosis exist in several psychiatric disorders. This study examines phenomenological and treatment differences between Caucasian and African-American patients presenting to a geropsychiatric unit for treatment of behavioral disturbances associated with dementia.


METHODS
One hundred and forty-one Caucasian patients were compared to 56 African-American patients consecutively admitted to a VA geropsychiatric inpatient unit. At admission, differences in behavior disturbances between the two groups were examined using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for Schizophrenia (PANSS). Differences in treatment were assessed by comparing medication types and doses between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Results showed that Caucasian and African-American patients with dementia and behavioral disturbances presented and responded similarly to like treatment on an inpatient geropsychiatric unit. The similarity between the two groups may be explained by the multi-ethnic make-up of the interdisciplinary treatment team and by the use of standardized scales to measure symptomatology and response.
Akpaffiong
M
M
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas, USA.
Kunik
M E
ME
Hale
D
D
Molinari
V
V
Orengo
C
C
D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D010054:Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003469:Culture; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology