Island Puerto Rican Research Articles

Clinical Features of Young Adult Hispanic Psychiatric In-Patients: The So-Called “Puerto Rican Syndrome”

Among 118 young Hispanic (101 Puerto Rican) psychiatric inpatients, somatic complaints, violence, suicidal tendency, hallucinations, sudden onset of symptoms, and dissociative behavior each occurred in 46% or more of patients. There was no difference in clinical presentation between island Puerto Rican patients and Puerto Rican patients raised on the mainland. There was no relationship between these behaviors and any specific psychiatric disorder. Although there is a suggestion that more of these behaviors may occur among Puerto Rican Hispanics, further study with larger control groups is needed.

Patterns of mental health utilization among island Puerto Rican poor.

This paper describes utilization of mental health services by poor Puerto Ricans living on the island. It examines the utilization rates, within health sectors, and settings for the provision of mental health services. Data are based on an islandwide probability sample of 18- to 64-year-old respondents living in low socioeconomic areas. We assessed need with the Psychiatric Symptom and Dysfunction Scales. Approximately one-third of our study population (31.5%) met criteria for need. Of these, only 32% had received any mental health care in the past year. Need was significantly associated with use of physical or mental health services for mental health problems. We found those who needed services to be five times more likely than those who did not need services to have used one or both sectors of care at least once in the past year. Among the first group 21.8% used the physical health sector to deal with mental health problems in contrast with 17.9% who sought care in the mental health sector. In the physical health sector, subjects used the public and private settings equally. In the mental health sector, 70% of subjects used the public setting. This suggests the nonpsychiatric physician as a main provider for mental health treatment.

Island and Continental Puerto Rican Literature: Cross-Cultural and Intertextual Considerations

Island and Continental Puerto Rican Literature: Cross-Cultural and Intertextual Considerations