Admission Characteristics of Indian and White Alcoholic Patients in a Rural Mental Hospital

Abstract

A group of 58 American Indian alcoholic admissions and a group of 211 White alcoholic admissions to a California State Mental Hospital were interviewed utilizing a 141-item interview scale. The two groups were compared as to their responses to the interview items by a series of one-way analyses of variance. Statistically significant differences were found on demographic, socioeconomic, hospitalization, drinking and friendship pattern variables. The results are discussed with reference to data reliability, and socioeconomic and cultural factors. The study's findings are also related to an apparent need for the education of police and native Americans in the area concerning treatment resources available to native American problem drinkers.

Cumulative trauma and PTSD in American Indian communities.

“…For example, depression and schizophrenia may be overdiagnosed due to unfamiliarity with culture-specific mourning and grieving patterns and practices identified among several American Indian populations (Manson, Shore, & Bloom 1985;Pelz et al, 1981;Shen, 1986). Conversely, other disorders may be underreported, because of mistrust and misunderstanding (Rozynko & Ferguson, 1978;Ryan, 1979). These factors can be addressed by the participation of culturally experienced and local clinicians and interviewers Westermeyer, 1985).…”

Prevalence of Problem Drinking in a Venezuelan Native American Population

“…Although there are no comprehensive community-based epidemiological studies documenting the extent of alcohol misuse and dependence among Native Americans, three recent studies have documented alcohol misuse and dependence rates of 75-83% among men and 39-51% among women (Manson et al, 1992;Leung et al, 1993;Robin et al, 1998). Many North American Indians engage in abrupt and intense bouts of episodic or binge drinking over a period of several days (Levy and Kunitz, 1974;Hill, 1980;Weisner et al, 1984;Westermeyer and Baker, 1986;Robin et al, 1998), with episodes often ending only after money runs out or unconsciousness prevails (Curley, 1967;Rozynko and Ferguson, 1978;Westermeyer, 1979). Some anthropological and ethnographic analyses have depicted binge drinking as a recreational, normative, traditional, and often positive behaviour.…”

Psychiatric Disorders Among American Indian vs. Other Patients With Psychoactive Substance Use Disorders

“…Brain damage may also result in part from the high rates of volatile inhalant abuse observed in some AI groups 1,7–10 . Episodic heavy “binge” drinking patterns among some tribes may favor increased traumatic brain injury, malnutrition, withdrawal seizures, and delirium tremens 2,11,12 …”

“…Foulks and Katz 1 made no note of dual disorder in a survey of 432 AI psychiatric patients in Alaska. Likewise, Rozynko and Ferguson 2 did not describe any psychiatric disorders besides alcoholism among 58 AI patients admitted to a California State Mental Hospital. On the contrary, Pelz et al 3 made “a primary diagnosis of alcoholism” in only 4 of their 41 AI psychiatric cases, but none of these four cases received another associated psychiatric diagnosis.…”