Psychiatric admissions of Asian Canadians to an adolescent inpatient unit.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the psychiatric diagnoses for Asian Canadians admitted to an adolescent inpatient unit with those of their white Canadian peers.

METHOD

A literature review was first completed and then followed by a hospital file review of the Asian Canadians admitted over a 5-year period to the adolescent inpatient psychiatric unit. The data extracted (relating to psychiatric diagnosis, age, length of stay, referral source, family type, and gender) were then compared with a random sample of white Canadians admitted to the same unit during the same 5-year time frame.

RESULTS

There were far fewer Asian Canadians admitted than would be expected based on Calgary's demographics. There was equal gender representation among those who were admitted, and they tended to be older and to have a greater preponderance of severe psychiatric symptomatology than their white Canadian peers.

CONCLUSIONS

This paper adds to previous research in emphasizing that ethnocultural factors play a significant role in the utilization of psychiatric services by immigrant populations.