2 research outputs found
Ethnic inequalities in the use of secondary and tertiary mental health services among patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
BackgroundObsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) has similar prevalence rates across
ethnic groups. However, ethnic minorities are underrepresented in
clinical trials of OCD. It is unclear whether this is also the case in
clinical services.AimsTo explore whether ethnic minorities with OCD are underrepresented in
secondary and tertiary mental health services in the South London and
Maudsley (SLaM) NHS Foundation Trust.MethodThe ethnic distribution of patients with OCD seen between 1999 and 2013
in SLaM (n = 1528) was compared with that of the general
population in the catchment area using census data. A cohort of patients
with depression (n = 22 716) was used for comparative
purposes.ResultsEthnic minorities with OCD were severely underrepresented across services
(–57%, 95% CI –62% to –52%). The magnitude of the observed inequalities
was significantly more pronounced than in depression (–29%, 95% CI–31%
to–27%).ConclusionsThere is a clear need to understand the reasons behind such ethnic
inequalities and implement measures to reduce them.</jats:sec