Bernardo Ng - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Bernardo Ng
abstract, 2023
The objective is to examine effects of stimulant treatment in children and adolescents with high ... more The objective is to examine effects of stimulant treatment in children and adolescents with high and low levels of emotional dysregulation in a psychiatric outpatient clinic. Methods: Subjects were referred children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years who presented to a child and adolescent psychiatric outpatient clinic between September 2016 and November 2021 and received a prescription for a stimulant medication. Children were stratified into those with low and high levels of emotional dysregulation as defined by an aggregate t score of <180 or 210 on the combined Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) subscales Attention Problems, Aggressive Behavior, and Anxious/Depressed (CBCL-AAA). We analyzed data on patients' prescriptions, diagnoses, and hospital visits extracted from the electronic medical record any time prior to referral and 3 months after referral. Results: Patients with higher CBCL-AAA scores had a significantly different medication and diagnosis profile, were more likely to have stimulant prescriptions at index, and were more likely to have a higher dosage of stimulants than patients with lower scores. These patients also were more likely to receive an additional medication class during follow-up, which was driven by second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs). Emergency room visits and inpatient psychiatric admissions were rare but present only in the group with higher CBCL-AAA scores. There were no significant adverse outcomes overall from stimulant treatment. Conclusions: These results suggest different clinical outcomes for youth receiving stimulant medication with high and low levels of emotional dysregulation, including a higher likelihood of receiving additional medications in conjunction with stimulant treatment in youth with high emotional dysregulation. No significant adverse outcomes were detected in either group. Further research should continue to investigate stimulant treatment in children and adolescents with emotional dysregulation.
Indian Journal of Psychiatry
Background: Stigma related to mental illness (and its treatment) is prevalent worldwide. This sti... more Background: Stigma related to mental illness (and its treatment) is prevalent worldwide. This stigma could be at the structural or organizational level, societal level (interpersonal stigma), and the individual level (internalized stigma). Vulnerable populations, for example, gender minorities, children, adolescents, and geriatric populations, are more prone to stigma. The magnitude of stigma and its negative influence is determined by socio-cultural factors and macro (mental health policies, programs) or micro-level factors (societal views, health sectors, or individuals’ attitudes towards mentally ill persons). Mental health stigma is associated with more serious psychological problems among the victims, reduced access to mental health care, poor adherence to treatment, and unfavorable outcomes. Although various nationwide and well-established anti-stigma interventions/campaigns exist in high-income countries (HICs) with favorable outcomes, a comprehensive synthesis of literature ...
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Psychosomatic Medicine, 1996
To examine the influence of patient ethnicity on receipt of postoperative analgesia. Chart review... more To examine the influence of patient ethnicity on receipt of postoperative analgesia. Chart review of 250 consecutive patients hospitalized for open reduction and internal fixation of a limb fracture. Analgesics consumption in the postoperative period was measured in terms of morphine equivalents. There were significant differences (p < .005) in analgesics administered to black, Hispanic, and white patients. Whites received 22 mg/day, blacks 16 mg/day, and Hispanics 13 mg/day. These ethnic differences persisted after controlling for possible confounding variables. Ethnicity exerts a powerful impact on medical care. We cannot determine from our data whether these differences stem from differences in pain behavior of the patients or differences in medical staff's perception and treatment of such patients.
Open Journal of Internal Medicine, 2013
Introduction: Studying the use of psychoactive substances in completed suicide is essential in or... more Introduction: Studying the use of psychoactive substances in completed suicide is essential in order to understand its role in the suicide generating stimuli. The most commonly reported substances are alcohol and opioids. Method: This is a retrospective study of completed suicide database of the Forensics Medical office in the city of Mexicali from 1999 to 2005. This is the capital of the Mexican state of Baja California in the US-Mexico border region. Results: Out of 288 suicides, 260 were men, and the most frequent drug found on autopsy was methamphetamine (p < 0.001). The modal victim was a young male (20-39 years old), employed in blue-collar jobs, lived in an urban area, found in their homes, and died by hanging. Discussion: Although no causal effect can be drawn, our study results suggest that methamphetamine use may be a risk factor for suicide in this sample.
Oxford University Press eBooks, Dec 1, 2012
We studiedif ethnicityinfluencespatient-controlledanalgesia(PCA)for the treatment of post-operati... more We studiedif ethnicityinfluencespatient-controlledanalgesia(PCA)for the treatment of post-operative pain. Using a retrospectiverecord review,we examineddata from all patients treated with PCA for post-operative pain from January to June 1993.We excludedpatients who did not have surgery prior to the prescription of PCA or werenot prescribedPCA in the immediatepost-operativeperiod.The sampleconsistedof 454subjects.Whilethere were no differencesin the amount of narcotic self-administered, there were significantdifferencesin the amount of narcotic prescribed among Asians, Blacks, Hispanics,and Whites (F= 7.352,P < 0.01).The ethnic differencesin prescribedanalgesicpersistedafter controllingfor age, gender,pre-operativeuse of narcotics,pain site, and insurance status. Patient'sethnicity has a greater impact on the amount of narcotic prescribed by the physicianthan on the amount of narcotic self-administeredby the patient.
Pluralidad y Consenso, Aug 25, 2020
SRX Neuroscience, 2010
We present a case of a demented patient who experienced a reversible period of superimposed sympt... more We present a case of a demented patient who experienced a reversible period of superimposed symptoms typical of Ganser syndrome. This is a poorly understood condition characterized by paralogia, clouding of consciousness and dissociative/conversion symptoms. Etiological factors include personal conflicts, organic brain syndromes, and child abuse. Even though more common in young adults, cases of conversion disorder in the elderly have been described as a form of pseudodementia, with functional impairment yet no evidence of organic deterioration. This was a 78 year old married male who came to our geriatric center after a hospitalization for a urinary tract infection, bronchitis and dehydration. The initial psychiatric evaluation offered evidence to rule out delirium, and errors in calculation compatible with paralogia (near right answers), disorientation, and errors in reality testing. Family also gave a history of an insidious and progressive deterioration of his cognition prior to his hospitalization that was not compatible with our initial findings. As well as a conflicting relationship with his ill and dependent wife. The treatment course during the following 12 months showed improvement in his mental status, compatible with the resolution of a superimposed and transient state compatible with Ganser syndrome, in a patient with underlying dementia of the Alzheimer type.
Depression and Anxiety, 2000
International Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2003
Premarketing trials of olanzapine reported an incidence of peripheral oedema of 3%. Outpatients, ... more Premarketing trials of olanzapine reported an incidence of peripheral oedema of 3%. Outpatients, who were actively receiving treatment with olanzapine, were evaluated for peripheral oedema. Twenty-eight (57%) out of 49 subjects exhibited oedema, including five (10.2%) to a severe degree. There were no significant differences regarding gender, time/dose on olanzapine, concomitant diagnoses or psychotropic medication. There was a tendency (P o 0.10) for older age and greater frequency of thyroid abnormalities in those individuals with oedema. In the oedema group, there was a positive correlation (P o 0.05) between age and severity. Our finding, far from demonstrating that olanzapine causes oedema at this frequency, suggests that there maybe patients who are vulnerable to developing this side-effect. Int Clin Psychopharmacol
Psychiatric Services, Dec 1, 2012
American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, Sep 1, 2020
European Psychiatry, Mar 1, 2011
BackgroundThe influence of acculturation and nativity on depression in Latinos remains highly con... more BackgroundThe influence of acculturation and nativity on depression in Latinos remains highly contested. One potential source of ambiguity is variation in their beliefs about the causes of their mental health ailments.MethodsWe conducted cross-sectional analyses of 450 older Latinos attending a rural mental health clinic near the U.S.-Mexico border. Primary diagnosis was grouped in one of 5 categories. The Center for Epidemiological Studies of Depression (CES-D) scale was used to measure depressive symptoms. Cultural variables included nativity and a validated acculturation scale. Patients rated their level of endorsement of 13 causes of mental health ailments A one-way ANOVA was conducted to identify cultural predictors of attribution items.ResultsLatinos had a mean age of 70.9 (SD = 9.1). The most common primary diagnoses were depressive disorders (67.1%) and dementia (15.3%). The mean CES-D score was 15.08 (SD = 18.16), but higher for the more acculturated (p = 0.048), and patients with psychotic (M = 26.31, SD = 19.78) and bipolar (M = 26.05, SD = 19.54) disorders. Acculturation increased attribution of mental health ailments to significant others (ρ = 0.091; p = 0.054), difficulty with work (ρ = 0.162; p = 0.001), and hereditary factors (r = 0.202, 95% CI = 0.002, 0.403). Patients with psychotic disorders were most likely to attribute their symptoms to curses (p = 0.001) and supernatural factors (p = 0.024) compared to other diagnostic categories.ConclusionsAcculturated Latinos attriattribute their mental health ailments to life circumstances. This may intensify depressive symptoms and partly explains the relationship between acculturation and depressive symptoms. Further, the patients’ major diagnosis must be considered when evaluating acculturative influences on depression in psychiatric populations.
European Psychiatry, Mar 1, 2011
BackgroundImperial County is designated as medically underserved and one of the poorest counties ... more BackgroundImperial County is designated as medically underserved and one of the poorest counties in CA. Our practice started in 1994 and serves the gap between the County Mental Health Services (CMHS) that treats the severely and chronically ill and the general medical community that faces the unmet need of specialty care for “less” severe patients.MethodsA plan was started to provide both psychiatric care and liaison activities. The community has 2 community general hospitals. Contracts were established with CMHS and private insurers to assure coverage of services. The plan was extended to dialysis units and long term facilities. Systematic collection of consult data was started in 1998.An electronic medical record was established with specific fields designated for research purposes. Working in association with UCSD, we established a number of IRB approved protocols. In addition, we contracted with a number of pharmaceutical companies to become a research site for mult-center trials.ResultsOver 300 consultations were performed yearly. The most common consultations involved assessments of: elderly agitated patients, conservatorship evaluations and suicide attempts.ConclusionPM strategies added value in the provision of psychiatric services and contract negotiation in this rural community. Applying an academic model decreased the gap between CMHS and the medical community. Patients appeared satisfied to see the same psychiatrists at different treatment settings (i.e. general hospital, dialysis unit, NSF). All interventions were covered by the diverse payment sources.
Innovation in Aging, 2020
Background and Objectives: Providing appropriate and culturally sensitive care to the rapidly gro... more Background and Objectives: Providing appropriate and culturally sensitive care to the rapidly growing number of U.S. Latinx older adults with psychiatric conditions presents a major public health challenge. We know little about older Latinx adults' perceived causes of mental health problems, offering clinicians limited insight to guide successful and culturally congruent treatment. Moreover, there is a paucity of mental health research examining heterogeneity in how Latinx individuals may attribute mental health symptoms. The present study sought to identify how Latinx and non-Latinx older adults attributed the sources of their mental health problems and how these types of attributions differ by ethnicity. Research Design and Methods: This study analyzed data collected from a retrospective chart review and survey of 673 adults aged 55-95 years (430 Mexican origin and 244 non-Latinx) from a rural psychiatric outpatient clinic near the California-Mexico border. We conducted stratified latent class analysis (LCA) by race/ethnicity to explore the mental health attribution beliefs of Mexican-origin and non-Latinx clinic patients. Results: Different LCA patterns for Mexican-origin Latinx versus non-Latinx groups were found. For non-Latinx adults, there was a class of individuals who attributed their mental health issues to social and financial problems. For Mexicanorigin adults, there was a class of individuals who attributed their mental health issues to spiritual and/or supernatural factors, unaffected by acculturation level, depressive symptom severity, and time spent in the United States, but differing by gender. We found within-group heterogeneity: Not all Mexican-origin or non-Latinx older adults were alike in how they conceptualized their mental health. Discussion and Implications: Mexican-origin Latinx and non-Latinx older adults attributed their mental health issues to different causes. More Mexican-origin older adults attributed their symptoms to spiritual causes, even after controlling for contextual factors. Further research is needed to determine whether attribution beliefs are affected by specific mental health diagnoses and other cultural factors not measured in this study.
World Psychiatry, May 7, 2022
World Psychiatry, Jan 11, 2022
Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, Feb 1, 1996
A total of 61 Mexican American adolescents who were consecutively admitted to an inpatient psychi... more A total of 61 Mexican American adolescents who were consecutively admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit after a suicide attempt were studied. They were given structured interviews to study their demographic, personal, and family characteristics. The intent of the suicide attempts was measured with the Pierce Suicide Intent Scale. Compared to subjects in the low-intent group, those in the high-intent group showed a history of more frequent previous suicide attempts (p < .03), had lived with both biological parents for a longer time (p < .04), usually had at least one biological parent at home at the time of the suicide attempts (p < .001), and had lived in the United States for a shorter period of time (p < .04). Psychosocialfactors including the phenomenon of acculturation are reviewed in the discussion of these results.
abstract, 2023
The objective is to examine effects of stimulant treatment in children and adolescents with high ... more The objective is to examine effects of stimulant treatment in children and adolescents with high and low levels of emotional dysregulation in a psychiatric outpatient clinic. Methods: Subjects were referred children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years who presented to a child and adolescent psychiatric outpatient clinic between September 2016 and November 2021 and received a prescription for a stimulant medication. Children were stratified into those with low and high levels of emotional dysregulation as defined by an aggregate t score of <180 or 210 on the combined Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) subscales Attention Problems, Aggressive Behavior, and Anxious/Depressed (CBCL-AAA). We analyzed data on patients' prescriptions, diagnoses, and hospital visits extracted from the electronic medical record any time prior to referral and 3 months after referral. Results: Patients with higher CBCL-AAA scores had a significantly different medication and diagnosis profile, were more likely to have stimulant prescriptions at index, and were more likely to have a higher dosage of stimulants than patients with lower scores. These patients also were more likely to receive an additional medication class during follow-up, which was driven by second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs). Emergency room visits and inpatient psychiatric admissions were rare but present only in the group with higher CBCL-AAA scores. There were no significant adverse outcomes overall from stimulant treatment. Conclusions: These results suggest different clinical outcomes for youth receiving stimulant medication with high and low levels of emotional dysregulation, including a higher likelihood of receiving additional medications in conjunction with stimulant treatment in youth with high emotional dysregulation. No significant adverse outcomes were detected in either group. Further research should continue to investigate stimulant treatment in children and adolescents with emotional dysregulation.
Indian Journal of Psychiatry
Background: Stigma related to mental illness (and its treatment) is prevalent worldwide. This sti... more Background: Stigma related to mental illness (and its treatment) is prevalent worldwide. This stigma could be at the structural or organizational level, societal level (interpersonal stigma), and the individual level (internalized stigma). Vulnerable populations, for example, gender minorities, children, adolescents, and geriatric populations, are more prone to stigma. The magnitude of stigma and its negative influence is determined by socio-cultural factors and macro (mental health policies, programs) or micro-level factors (societal views, health sectors, or individuals’ attitudes towards mentally ill persons). Mental health stigma is associated with more serious psychological problems among the victims, reduced access to mental health care, poor adherence to treatment, and unfavorable outcomes. Although various nationwide and well-established anti-stigma interventions/campaigns exist in high-income countries (HICs) with favorable outcomes, a comprehensive synthesis of literature ...
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Psychosomatic Medicine, 1996
To examine the influence of patient ethnicity on receipt of postoperative analgesia. Chart review... more To examine the influence of patient ethnicity on receipt of postoperative analgesia. Chart review of 250 consecutive patients hospitalized for open reduction and internal fixation of a limb fracture. Analgesics consumption in the postoperative period was measured in terms of morphine equivalents. There were significant differences (p < .005) in analgesics administered to black, Hispanic, and white patients. Whites received 22 mg/day, blacks 16 mg/day, and Hispanics 13 mg/day. These ethnic differences persisted after controlling for possible confounding variables. Ethnicity exerts a powerful impact on medical care. We cannot determine from our data whether these differences stem from differences in pain behavior of the patients or differences in medical staff's perception and treatment of such patients.
Open Journal of Internal Medicine, 2013
Introduction: Studying the use of psychoactive substances in completed suicide is essential in or... more Introduction: Studying the use of psychoactive substances in completed suicide is essential in order to understand its role in the suicide generating stimuli. The most commonly reported substances are alcohol and opioids. Method: This is a retrospective study of completed suicide database of the Forensics Medical office in the city of Mexicali from 1999 to 2005. This is the capital of the Mexican state of Baja California in the US-Mexico border region. Results: Out of 288 suicides, 260 were men, and the most frequent drug found on autopsy was methamphetamine (p < 0.001). The modal victim was a young male (20-39 years old), employed in blue-collar jobs, lived in an urban area, found in their homes, and died by hanging. Discussion: Although no causal effect can be drawn, our study results suggest that methamphetamine use may be a risk factor for suicide in this sample.
Oxford University Press eBooks, Dec 1, 2012
We studiedif ethnicityinfluencespatient-controlledanalgesia(PCA)for the treatment of post-operati... more We studiedif ethnicityinfluencespatient-controlledanalgesia(PCA)for the treatment of post-operative pain. Using a retrospectiverecord review,we examineddata from all patients treated with PCA for post-operative pain from January to June 1993.We excludedpatients who did not have surgery prior to the prescription of PCA or werenot prescribedPCA in the immediatepost-operativeperiod.The sampleconsistedof 454subjects.Whilethere were no differencesin the amount of narcotic self-administered, there were significantdifferencesin the amount of narcotic prescribed among Asians, Blacks, Hispanics,and Whites (F= 7.352,P < 0.01).The ethnic differencesin prescribedanalgesicpersistedafter controllingfor age, gender,pre-operativeuse of narcotics,pain site, and insurance status. Patient'sethnicity has a greater impact on the amount of narcotic prescribed by the physicianthan on the amount of narcotic self-administeredby the patient.
Pluralidad y Consenso, Aug 25, 2020
SRX Neuroscience, 2010
We present a case of a demented patient who experienced a reversible period of superimposed sympt... more We present a case of a demented patient who experienced a reversible period of superimposed symptoms typical of Ganser syndrome. This is a poorly understood condition characterized by paralogia, clouding of consciousness and dissociative/conversion symptoms. Etiological factors include personal conflicts, organic brain syndromes, and child abuse. Even though more common in young adults, cases of conversion disorder in the elderly have been described as a form of pseudodementia, with functional impairment yet no evidence of organic deterioration. This was a 78 year old married male who came to our geriatric center after a hospitalization for a urinary tract infection, bronchitis and dehydration. The initial psychiatric evaluation offered evidence to rule out delirium, and errors in calculation compatible with paralogia (near right answers), disorientation, and errors in reality testing. Family also gave a history of an insidious and progressive deterioration of his cognition prior to his hospitalization that was not compatible with our initial findings. As well as a conflicting relationship with his ill and dependent wife. The treatment course during the following 12 months showed improvement in his mental status, compatible with the resolution of a superimposed and transient state compatible with Ganser syndrome, in a patient with underlying dementia of the Alzheimer type.
Depression and Anxiety, 2000
International Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2003
Premarketing trials of olanzapine reported an incidence of peripheral oedema of 3%. Outpatients, ... more Premarketing trials of olanzapine reported an incidence of peripheral oedema of 3%. Outpatients, who were actively receiving treatment with olanzapine, were evaluated for peripheral oedema. Twenty-eight (57%) out of 49 subjects exhibited oedema, including five (10.2%) to a severe degree. There were no significant differences regarding gender, time/dose on olanzapine, concomitant diagnoses or psychotropic medication. There was a tendency (P o 0.10) for older age and greater frequency of thyroid abnormalities in those individuals with oedema. In the oedema group, there was a positive correlation (P o 0.05) between age and severity. Our finding, far from demonstrating that olanzapine causes oedema at this frequency, suggests that there maybe patients who are vulnerable to developing this side-effect. Int Clin Psychopharmacol
Psychiatric Services, Dec 1, 2012
American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, Sep 1, 2020
European Psychiatry, Mar 1, 2011
BackgroundThe influence of acculturation and nativity on depression in Latinos remains highly con... more BackgroundThe influence of acculturation and nativity on depression in Latinos remains highly contested. One potential source of ambiguity is variation in their beliefs about the causes of their mental health ailments.MethodsWe conducted cross-sectional analyses of 450 older Latinos attending a rural mental health clinic near the U.S.-Mexico border. Primary diagnosis was grouped in one of 5 categories. The Center for Epidemiological Studies of Depression (CES-D) scale was used to measure depressive symptoms. Cultural variables included nativity and a validated acculturation scale. Patients rated their level of endorsement of 13 causes of mental health ailments A one-way ANOVA was conducted to identify cultural predictors of attribution items.ResultsLatinos had a mean age of 70.9 (SD = 9.1). The most common primary diagnoses were depressive disorders (67.1%) and dementia (15.3%). The mean CES-D score was 15.08 (SD = 18.16), but higher for the more acculturated (p = 0.048), and patients with psychotic (M = 26.31, SD = 19.78) and bipolar (M = 26.05, SD = 19.54) disorders. Acculturation increased attribution of mental health ailments to significant others (ρ = 0.091; p = 0.054), difficulty with work (ρ = 0.162; p = 0.001), and hereditary factors (r = 0.202, 95% CI = 0.002, 0.403). Patients with psychotic disorders were most likely to attribute their symptoms to curses (p = 0.001) and supernatural factors (p = 0.024) compared to other diagnostic categories.ConclusionsAcculturated Latinos attriattribute their mental health ailments to life circumstances. This may intensify depressive symptoms and partly explains the relationship between acculturation and depressive symptoms. Further, the patients’ major diagnosis must be considered when evaluating acculturative influences on depression in psychiatric populations.
European Psychiatry, Mar 1, 2011
BackgroundImperial County is designated as medically underserved and one of the poorest counties ... more BackgroundImperial County is designated as medically underserved and one of the poorest counties in CA. Our practice started in 1994 and serves the gap between the County Mental Health Services (CMHS) that treats the severely and chronically ill and the general medical community that faces the unmet need of specialty care for “less” severe patients.MethodsA plan was started to provide both psychiatric care and liaison activities. The community has 2 community general hospitals. Contracts were established with CMHS and private insurers to assure coverage of services. The plan was extended to dialysis units and long term facilities. Systematic collection of consult data was started in 1998.An electronic medical record was established with specific fields designated for research purposes. Working in association with UCSD, we established a number of IRB approved protocols. In addition, we contracted with a number of pharmaceutical companies to become a research site for mult-center trials.ResultsOver 300 consultations were performed yearly. The most common consultations involved assessments of: elderly agitated patients, conservatorship evaluations and suicide attempts.ConclusionPM strategies added value in the provision of psychiatric services and contract negotiation in this rural community. Applying an academic model decreased the gap between CMHS and the medical community. Patients appeared satisfied to see the same psychiatrists at different treatment settings (i.e. general hospital, dialysis unit, NSF). All interventions were covered by the diverse payment sources.
Innovation in Aging, 2020
Background and Objectives: Providing appropriate and culturally sensitive care to the rapidly gro... more Background and Objectives: Providing appropriate and culturally sensitive care to the rapidly growing number of U.S. Latinx older adults with psychiatric conditions presents a major public health challenge. We know little about older Latinx adults' perceived causes of mental health problems, offering clinicians limited insight to guide successful and culturally congruent treatment. Moreover, there is a paucity of mental health research examining heterogeneity in how Latinx individuals may attribute mental health symptoms. The present study sought to identify how Latinx and non-Latinx older adults attributed the sources of their mental health problems and how these types of attributions differ by ethnicity. Research Design and Methods: This study analyzed data collected from a retrospective chart review and survey of 673 adults aged 55-95 years (430 Mexican origin and 244 non-Latinx) from a rural psychiatric outpatient clinic near the California-Mexico border. We conducted stratified latent class analysis (LCA) by race/ethnicity to explore the mental health attribution beliefs of Mexican-origin and non-Latinx clinic patients. Results: Different LCA patterns for Mexican-origin Latinx versus non-Latinx groups were found. For non-Latinx adults, there was a class of individuals who attributed their mental health issues to social and financial problems. For Mexicanorigin adults, there was a class of individuals who attributed their mental health issues to spiritual and/or supernatural factors, unaffected by acculturation level, depressive symptom severity, and time spent in the United States, but differing by gender. We found within-group heterogeneity: Not all Mexican-origin or non-Latinx older adults were alike in how they conceptualized their mental health. Discussion and Implications: Mexican-origin Latinx and non-Latinx older adults attributed their mental health issues to different causes. More Mexican-origin older adults attributed their symptoms to spiritual causes, even after controlling for contextual factors. Further research is needed to determine whether attribution beliefs are affected by specific mental health diagnoses and other cultural factors not measured in this study.
World Psychiatry, May 7, 2022
World Psychiatry, Jan 11, 2022
Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, Feb 1, 1996
A total of 61 Mexican American adolescents who were consecutively admitted to an inpatient psychi... more A total of 61 Mexican American adolescents who were consecutively admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit after a suicide attempt were studied. They were given structured interviews to study their demographic, personal, and family characteristics. The intent of the suicide attempts was measured with the Pierce Suicide Intent Scale. Compared to subjects in the low-intent group, those in the high-intent group showed a history of more frequent previous suicide attempts (p < .03), had lived with both biological parents for a longer time (p < .04), usually had at least one biological parent at home at the time of the suicide attempts (p < .001), and had lived in the United States for a shorter period of time (p < .04). Psychosocialfactors including the phenomenon of acculturation are reviewed in the discussion of these results.