Schizophrenia and Psychotic Symptoms in American Indian Tribes
Author Information
Author(s): Robin Robert W, Gottesman Irving I, Albaugh Bernard, Goldman David
Hypothesis
The risk of schizophrenia is thought to be higher in population isolates that have recently been exposed to major cultural changes.
Conclusion
The occurrence of schizophrenia among members of these two tribal population groups is consistent with prevalence rates reported for population isolates and in the general population.
Supporting Evidence
- Five of the 582 Southwestern American Indian respondents had a lifetime diagnosis of schizophrenia.
- One of the 331 interviewed Plains American Indians had a lifetime diagnosis of schizophrenia.
- Nearly one-fifth of the respondents reported experiencing psychotic-like symptoms.
Takeaway
This study looked at how many people in two American Indian tribes have schizophrenia, and found that their rates are similar to those in the general population.
Methodology
Semi-structured psychiatric interviews were conducted to diagnose schizophrenia using standardized criteria.
Potential Biases
There may have been cultural biases in diagnosing schizophrenia due to the context of symptoms in American Indian cultures.
Limitations
The study could not factor in the potential modifying effect of mortality rates of schizophrenia-suffering tribal members on overall tribal rates.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 329 females and 253 males from a Southwestern American Indian tribe, and 194 females and 137 males from a Plains American Indian tribe.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
± 2.4 for Southwestern Indians, ± 1.1 for Plains Indians
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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