Psychiatric morbidity and related factors in West Indian students

ABSTRACT

An analysis of certain clinical and demographic variables was performed on patients seen in each of four years by psychiatrists at the University of the West Indies Mona Campus Health Services. A serial sample of 169 patients was also surveyed. A 50 percent sample of final year students was used as a control group. Personality disorders and related neurotic syndromes were commonest. Alcohol and drug addiction were absent. Contributory life stresses included male-female relationships, relating to parents, general relationships, and academic and identity problems. More of the patient sample had frequent previous emotional complaints than the control group. Passive dependency was the single greatest clinical problem and correlated highly with male-female life stresses. The common nature of dependency and its predisposition to decompensation amidst male-female difficulties are striking and could reflect the pressure of the West Indian family structure. The pattern seen reflect academic, developmental and cultural factors which are of importance in treatment and prevention (AU)