Social Psychiatric Impairment: Racial Comparisons

From a large-scale epidemiologic study of the mental health needs and services of a southeastern county, randomly selected groups of black and white respondents were compared with respect to social and demographic characteristics, symptoms and indices of psychological distress, effects of emotional distress on daily functioning, interpersonal and familial networks, aspiration and satisfaction, and a comprehensive rating of social psychiatric impairment. The authors relate the racial differences on these dimensions to social and economic deprivation and to social change in the South.