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35th AM (2025) - Poster Session
Mental Health Disparities by Race An Exploratory A ...
Mental Health Disparities by Race An Exploratory Analysis of Self-Reported Lifetime Mental Health Characteristics..
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Pdf Summary
This exploratory study investigated racial disparities in self-reported lifetime mental health characteristics among 1,405 patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) from four Maryland inpatient addiction centers. The sample was 57% White, 36% Black, and 7% Other race, with a mean age of 38 years. Researchers examined differences in reported lifetime depression, anxiety, psychiatric medication use, and suicide attempts using logistic regression models controlling for gender, sexual orientation, education, age, and syringe use.<br /><br />Results revealed that Black patients were significantly less likely than White and Other race patients to report lifetime depression, anxiety, and psychiatric medication use. No significant racial differences were found for lifetime suicide attempts or between White and Other race groups. These findings align with broader population trends where Black individuals tend to report fewer psychiatric symptoms and lower medication use compared to White counterparts. Potential explanations include cultural variations in symptom expression, differential willingness to self-report mental health issues, protective cultural factors, systemic barriers, and clinician bias in diagnosis and treatment.<br /><br />The study highlights the high prevalence of co-occurring psychiatric conditions in people with OUD and underscores the need for culturally responsive and inclusive mental health screening within addiction treatment settings. Addressing reliance on self-report and systemic inequities is critical to improving diagnostic accuracy and equity in care for racially diverse populations with OUD. Future research should explore the underlying mechanisms—both cultural and systemic—that contribute to these disparities to inform better assessment strategies and equitable treatment delivery.<br /><br />In summary, the study identifies significant racial disparities in mental health symptom reporting and psychiatric medication use among OUD patients, emphasizing the importance of tailored, culturally sensitive approaches in addiction and mental health services to reduce care gaps and improve outcomes.
Keywords
opioid use disorder
racial disparities
mental health
depression
anxiety
psychiatric medication
suicide attempts
cultural factors
self-reporting bias
addiction treatment
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