Tackling Demographic Disparities in Schizophrenia Diagnosis
In this video, Psych Congress NP Institute Faculty Member Hara Oyedeji, APRN, PMHNP-BC, MSEd, discusses the demographic disparities that exist in the diagnosis of schizophrenia. With a focus on the role that clinicians can play in tackling these disparities, Oyedeji emphasizes the impact that continued education and open dialogue can have in dismantling stigma and ensuring culturally sensitive, effective care for all patient populations.
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Read the Transcript
Hara Oyedeji, APRN, PMHNP-BC, MSEd: Hello, my name is Hara Oyedeji. I am a psychiatric nurse practitioner out of Baltimore, Maryland, and I have my Master of Science in Nursing and also a Master of Science in Education, so I am an educator first and foremost. I have my own group practice, Fortitude Wellness Group, and I absolutely love being able to interact, teach, and work with fellow nurse practitioners.
Psych Congress Network: Some patient populations are diagnosed with schizophrenia at higher rates than others. Could you discuss some of the factors that contribute to that disparity, and what advice would you offer clinicians seeking to be mindful about these differences in patient populations?"
Oyedeji: Wow, that's a powerful question. As a woman of color, as a Black woman, it's important that I'm understanding many of my patients who look like me have been through different experiences that have, unfortunately or fortunately, jaded their perception of mental health. Stigma definitely exists, but it's not just for our patients. Stigma exists on the clinician's side as well. I think I read somewhere that, at least as far as psychiatrists, for example, only maybe 2% of psychiatrists identify as African American.
So we start thinking about our patients, their experiences, and are they able to see individuals that look like them? It definitely means something for me when they share that with me. The other part is that cultural bias and inherent biases definitely exist. It’s important that the training of clinicians is also incorporating and encompassing cultural sensitivity as well as understanding the different populations that they're going to be working with. It's extremely important. It's important in terms of, are there biases that cause you to diagnose a certain way or are you seeking out certain things? Maybe unbeknownst to you, are there certain perceptions that cause you to believe, is this hypomania when really there may be trauma or other things that are there? Is it schizophrenia? Is it a mood disorder? We really need to be aware of our cultural biases, and that comes with education and training.
When we are able to go to different events, learning opportunities, have the education at conferences where we can have these open discussions and learn from other clinicians, it only makes us better to help our patients be better, and we have an opportunity to help break down those barriers.
Unfortunately, there is data that suggests that, for example, Black patients, African American patients, are diagnosed or misdiagnosed higher than their White counterparts. We have to understand that these disparities exist, but why are they there? And are we really getting the education to help us better understand so that we're making better choices, being better clinicians, but also allowing our patients to see that we're listening and we're trying? That also helps to break down the stigma from their perspective, I believe.
Hara Oyedeji, APRN, PMHNP-BC, MSEd, is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner currently working in outpatient care with experience in inpatient and psychiatric hospital settings. She serves as owner, clinician and clinical preceptor in her private group practice, Fortitude Wellness Group, and is the Chief Operating Officer and Medical Director of a CARF accredited Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, Greater Chesapeake Health and Wellness in Baltimore City. Hara completed her undergraduate degree at Rutgers University and her Master’s degree in education from Monmouth University in New Jersey. She completed her Master’s degree in nursing from the University of Maryland with her Post-Master's training as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner from Drexel University.
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