A comparison of psychiatric symptoms between Anglo-Americans and Mexican-Americans with schizophrenia

Culture is widely thought to influence the form, content, and extent of sym ptoms experienced and expressed by the mentally ill. However, little is kno wn about how specific cultural groups differ in their symptomatic presentat ion of mental illness. Using data derived from the Present State Exam, the current study compared 63 Angle-American and 53 Mexican-American patients w ith schizophrenia on ten psychiatric symptoms. A series of logistic regress ions offered several interesting findings. For instance, as hypothesized, M exican-American patients were more likely to report physical symptoms than their Angle-American counterparts. Also in line with expectations, Anglo-Am erican patients reported experiencing a greater frequency of several psychi atric symptoms such as persecutory delusions, nervous tension, and blunted affect. Results from this study suggest that the presentation of even a ver y biologically determined disorder such as schizophrenia can be shaped by s ociocultural factors. Specific aspects of Angle-American and Latino culture s that may influence symptom patterns in patients suffering from schizophre nia are discussed.