Prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders among low-income African Americans at a clinic on Chicago's south side.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the point prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders among predominantly low-income, African-American psychiatric patients at Jackson Park Hospital's Family Medicine Clinic on Chicago's South Side.


METHODS
Using active case ascertainment methodology, the authors assessed the records of 611 psychiatric patients visiting the clinic between May 23, 2013, and January 14, 2014, to identify those with DSM-5 neurodevelopmental disorders.


RESULTS
A total of 297 patients (49%) met criteria for a neurodevelopmental disorder during childhood. Moreover, 237 (39%) had clinical profiles consistent with neurobehavioral disorder associated with prenatal alcohol exposure, and 53 (9%) had other neurodevelopmental disorders. The authors disagreed on the specific type of neurodevelopmental disorder of seven (1% of 611) of the 297 patients with neurodevelopmental disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
A high prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders was found among low-income predominantly African-American psychiatric patients on Chicago's South Side. If replicated, these findings should bring about substantial changes in medical practice with African-American patients.
Dr. Bell is with the Jackson Park Hospital Family Medicine Clinic, Chicago (e-mail: bell-carl@att.net ). Ms. Chimata is with Spartan Health Sciences University, Vieux Fort, St. Lucia.
Carl C
CC
Bell
Radhika
R
Chimata
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065886:Neurodevelopmental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011203:Poverty; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult