Ethnic and gender differences in mental health utilization: The case of Muslim Jordanian and Moroccan Jewish Israeli out-patient psychiatric patients

A sample of 148 (87 Jordanian [61 male, 26 female] and 61 Israeli [26 male, 35 female]) was selected from a psychiatric clinic in Ashdod Israel and Za rka Jordan, using convenience sampling methodology over a 12 month period i n late 1997 and early 1998. A revised Hopkins Symptom Checklist: A Self-Rep ort Symptom Inventory (HSCL) was translated into Arabic and Hebrew and dist ributed to subjects; additional questions explored demographic characterist ics, forms of received treatment, patient perceptions of treatment efficacy , patient use of traditional healers, and patient explanation of etiology. Data revealed that there were differences in dimensions between the 2 group s based on nationality and gender. More Jordanians than Israelis expected m edications as the main treatment, and unlike Israelis, no Jordanian patient s received individual psychotherapy. Israelis expected medications, advice, directions, and instructions from psychiatrists. Both ethnic groups consul ted a wide array of traditional healers, although precise types of healers varied according to gender and ethnicity. Israeli subjects gave more divers e explanations of mental health etiologies: physical, family, divorce, econ omic, unemployment; whereas Jordanians tended to emphasize divine and spiri tual sources. Implications for psychiatric practice are discussed.