FRIDAY, Aug. 26, 2005 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers are planning to find out why black Americans seeking help for depression and other mood disorders are often misdiagnosed with schizophrenia.
A team of University of Cincinnati investigators will lead a four-year national study to determine why these misdiagnoses occur and whether they lead to the excessive use of antipsychotic drugs among blacks.
"Research has already shown that African-American patients are being improperly diagnosed, but we need to find out why," said Dr. Stephen Strakowski, the study's lead investigator.
Previous studies have suggested that misdiagnosis occurs when doctors overemphasize certain symptoms often associated with schizophrenia, while overlooking the symptoms of mood disorders.
The researchers will also look into whether Hispanics also experience an excess number of these types of misdiagnoses as well.
The study is funded by a $10 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health and will include researchers from five other universities across the country.
More information
The National Institute of Mental Health has more about depression.
