Racial and Ethnic Behavioral Health Disparities: A Study of the Prevalence of Diagnosed Disorders

Publication Date: 6/1/2006

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Description:

While disparities have been identified for many physical health problems, the prevalence of various mental health problems across racial and ethnic groups and across age groups has been less adequately described. The research described in this report first reviewed the prevalence in Florida of 11 categories of behavioral health problems across White, Black and Hispanic Medicaid enrollees aged 0-18, 18-64, and 65 and over. The diagnostic categories studied included schizophrenia, other major psychoses, major affective disorders, minor depressive disorders, personality disorders, alcohol-related disorders, substance abuse disorders, behavioral conduct disorders, attention deficit disorders, and Alzheimer's disease. Detailed analyses were then conducted of claims data for major affective and minor depressive disorders across all age groups, and one specific disorder for each age group: behavioral conduct disorder for children and adolescents, schizophrenia for those age 18 through 64, and Alzheimer's disease for those age 65 and over.