Gender Differences in Patterns of Risk Factors Among Children Receiving Mental Health Services

Concern has been expressed about underrepresentation of Hispanics in mental health facilities, but little has been done to examine Hispanic gender differences in the use of such facilities. This descriptive study provides a broader and more detailed profile of Hispanic women's use of selected inpatient mental health facilities than is currently available. It presents gender differences in number, percent, and rate per 100,000 population for Hispanic and nonHispanic inpatient admissions with respect to age, marital status, and diagnosis. Results suggest that women use these inpatient facilities less than men, and this gender difference is greater for Hispanics. This greater gender difference in admissions among Hispanics was found across age and marital status categories, but not in all diagnoses. Regardless of ethnicity, men had higher admission rates for schizophrenia and alcohol-related disorders, but not for affective disorders. Marital status was related to diagnosis differently for Hispanics and nonHispanics. The gender difference in favor of higher rates for men with schizophrenia was not found for married nonHispanics. The gender difference in favor of higher rates for women with affective disorders was not found for separated/divorced Hispanic women. These findings point to the importance of and need for psychological research that examines the relationship between gender and sex roles and mental health, the inclusion of the resultant knowledge in mental health education and training, and the application of that knowledge to the design of mental health services.

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An Examination of Sustained Versus Transient Distressing Psychotic-Like Experiences Using Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development℠ Study Data

10.1101/2020.11.10.20229229 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nicole R. Karcher ◽

Rachel L. Loewy ◽

Mark Savill ◽

Shelli Avenevoli ◽

Rebekah S. Huber ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Cognitive Development ◽

Mental Health Services ◽

Health Services ◽

Executive Functioning ◽

School Performance ◽

Study Data ◽

Psychotic Symptoms ◽

Development Study

AbstractObjectiveA potential distinguishing factor between more benign and transient psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) versus PLEs that predict risk for psychiatric disorders is whether the PLEs are sustained and distressing (sustained dPLEs). The current study examined associations of both sustained and transient dPLEs with relevant risk factors (e.g., cognition), use of mental health services, and functional correlates (e.g., school performance) in school-age children.MethodThe current study used three Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development℠ study data waves to create sustained dPLE (n=272), transient dPLE (n=244), and control (n=272) groups. Hierarchical linear models examined whether these groups differed in terms of use of mental health services, functional correlates, family history of mental disorders, other symptoms (e.g., parent-rated psychotic symptoms, internalizing, externalizing symptoms), environmental factors (e.g., adverse childhood events [ACEs]), cognitive functioning, developmental milestone delays, and neuroimaging indices.ResultsSeveral factors were more strongly associated with sustained versus transient dPLEs, including use of mental health services (for sustained vs. controls: d=0.38), drop in grades (d=--.30), other symptoms (i.e., parent-rated psychotic, bipolar, internalizing, externalizing, suicidality; 0.33>ds<0.88), ACEs (d=.36), and lower fluid and executive functioning cognitive scores (-0.31>ds<-0.41). For most risk factors, the sustained dPLEs group showed the greatest impairments, followed by the transient group, with the control group showing the least impairments.ConclusionsThese results have implications for understanding the pathogenesis of dPLEs, including indicating that several factors may distinguish transient from persisting dPLEs in children, including higher symptoms and ACEs, lower executive functioning scores, greater use of mental health services, and worsening school performance.

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