Factors associated with the symptoms, symptom expression, and diagnosis of black patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: An integrative review

Research has demonstrated that Black patients are more likely to be diagnosed with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder (SSD) compared to White patients. This integrative review focused on factors associated with symptoms, symptom expression, and the diagnosis of Black patients with SSD. Four data bases were searched from 2013 to 2023 and included studies written in English, studied patients with symptoms or diagnoses of SSDs; reported the symptoms or diagnoses of SSD in Black patients; examined any factors related to symptoms or diagnosis of SSD; and were published in peer-reviewed journals. Studies reported that differences in diagnosis may be due to how Black patients' experience symptoms of SSD, socio-geographic factors such as geography and migration, and provider demographic factors such as age, gender, and race. Results indicate the need for further discussion and awareness of how individual, socio-geographic, and provider factors may be associated with racial differences in symptoms, symptom expression, and the diagnosis of Back patients with SSD.