HALLUCINATIONS AND DELUSIONS IN WHITE AND NEGRO SCHIZOPHRENICS

The incidence of hallucinations was significantly higher among Negro schizophrenics than among white schizophrenics first admitted to the state hospital system. The incidence of delusions was the same in these schizophrenic groups. The greater incidence of hallucinations as compared to delusions in the Negro schizophrenics does not depend on differences in the taking or recording of clinical data, since the incidence of hallucinations as compared to delusions is the same among colored and white non-schizophrenics admitted to these same hospitals. If hallucinations are considered evidence of a more severely schizophrenic state it may be that there are factors in the Negro culture that predispose to more severe schizophrenic illness and/or keep the Negro out of the hospital until his illness is more severe. It may be also that cultural patterns are responsible for the difference in the rate of occurrence of hallucinations.