THE QUESTION OF CULTURAL-BIAS IN ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSIS OF ETHNIC-MINORITY CLIENTS - LETS REJECT THE NULL HYPOTHESIS

Cultural bias in the mental health assessment and psychiatric diagnosi s of ethnic minorities has been asserted and challenged on the basis o f clinical impression and a variety of psychometric criteria. The lack of a definitive empirical basis to resolve issues of assessment and d iagnostic bias means that the null hypothesis (no bias or cross-cultur al uniformity) prevails. This article argues that the traditional hypo thesis to be nullified should be challenged. The consequences associat ed with its incorrect retention (Type II error = disservice to minorit y clients) may be more serious than its incorrect rejection (Type I er ror = misdirection to the mental health service system). If a client-c entered error is judged more serious than a service system error, then a statement of bias or crosscultural variance should be the null hypo thesis until such time as empirical data suggest otherwise.