Differences in psychopathology between black and white schizophrenics.

The psychopathology of black and white schizophrenics was compared in 275 consecutive admissions of schizophrenics, who were rated on two rating scales by psychiatrists, using a structured interview. There were significant differences between black and white schizophrenics; blacks exhibited more frequent symptoms of angry outbursts, poor communication, disorientation, asocial behaviour and auditory and visual hallucinations, while whites showed more frequent symptoms of unsystematized delusions. When controlled for sex, additional symptom differences were found for female schizophrenics; blacks were more often excited, ambivalent, rigid and dysphoric. For male schizophrenics, all symptom differences disappeared except one; blacks were more frequently asocial.