Current Psychiatry Reviews - Volume 12, Issue 2, 2016

Although considerable strides have been made in understanding, diagnosing, and treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), not all groups have benefited from these advances. OCD in ethnic and racial minority groups has been – and continues to be – a neglected area of study. The last 15 years of research has shed new light on OCD in African Americans, with some fascinating findings and new questions to answer. This rev Read More

Hoarding Disorder (HD) is characterized by difficulty discarding and parting with possessions, resulting in the accumulation of belongings that congest and clutter active living areas and compromises their use. While HD is thought to be a universal phenomenon, the phenomenological, epidemiological, and clinical research studies published to date have mainly been conducted in Western, industrialized countries, preclu Read More

In light of the recent incorporation of the DSM-5, this updated comprehensive review of racial/ethnic differences in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) makes a significant and timely contribution for clinicians and researchers. Racial/ethnic differences in the prevalence and symptom expression of PTSD are the focus of the current review. In particular, this review examines differences in PTSD expression and prevalenc Read More

Evidence demonstrates that adolescent substance use is prevalent and extends to adolescents of immigrant minority groups. Given the large presence and growth of Hispanic-Latino and Asian populations in the United States, examining the role of culturally specific experiences in substance use risk among Hispanic-Latino and Asian adolescents is critical. In particular, evidence indicates that acculturation may pose Read More

Latino/a individuals comprise the largest and fastest growing United States ethnic minority group of youth. Latino/a adolescents are a high priority, vulnerable population at risk for death and serious injury. More specifically, Latino/a adolescents are at high risk for being diagnosed with depression and thus experiencing depressive symptoms, including suicide ideations, attempts, and completions. The current article sum Read More

The early literature on eating disorders focused primarily on young, White women in the United States and Europe. However, there is alarming recent evidence showing that there are increasing rates of eating disorders both in the United States among non-European American ethnic groups and across the globe in previously non- Westernized countries. Some researchers attribute these increased prevalence rates to the gro Read More

With the new revision of the DSM-5, research and theory related to the diagnosis of gender dysphoria (GD) have increased. Through debates and discussions of controversy with the GD diagnosis, knowledge of gender identity and psychopathology related to minority stress have also become more prevalent. One of the primary limitations noted in the majority of research on transgender issues and GD is the lack of inclusion of Read More

There has been an increase in literature that addresses risks associated with suicide vulnerability and death for American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian American, Black American, and Hispanic American adults. However, much more definitive work is needed. In comparison to previous decades, research in the area of ethnic minority suicide may have lost some momentum for certain racial/ethnic groups. As the U.S. po Read More

Despite decades of research on the treatment of mental illness, providing services to the public remains a significant concern. According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a large number of individuals suffer from psychiatric conditions, yet few receive the necessary treatment. Among ethnic minority populations, there is a larger gap in the lack of service use. Help-seeking for professional h Read More

Hallucinogen Persistent Perception Disorder (HPPD) is considered an “uncommon” disorder described in association with use of hallucinogens such as LSD, mescaline and psilocybin. Despite multiple mentions of persistence of visual disturbances reported by users on online forums, clinicians may not be aware of this complication. There have been few descriptions of HPPD in association with use of new psychoactive substanc Read More