Patients from ethnic minority groups often require counselling time on their medication. The many cultural differences in patients from ethnic backgrounds can cause problems in stressing the need to comply with their medication regime, despite the requirements of their religious beliefs or dietary restrictions. It is interesting to note that among groups of people of West Indian and Irish origin living in this country, the number of admissions to psychiatric hospital units for schizophrenia is over three times greater than for people born in England or Wales. It has also been shown that class has an effect on the epidemiological data. Depression is five times more common in working class women than in men.
Schizophrenia is more common in the lower social class.
The severely mentally ill More severely ill patients include, for example, patients suffering from schizophrenia who, until their condition is stabilised, are usually treated in hospital. Schizophrenia is a relatively common form of psychiatric disorder and the average GP cares for about ten to 20 such patients, depending on the size of the practice, its location and social surroundings. Schizophrenic patients usually show a change in personality in the initial stages of the disorder, losing their friends and their jobs, and they show a decline in personal hygiene. There are a number of drugs available for the treatment of schizophrenia. Dopamine blocking drugs are frequently the first choice of treatment, eg haloperidol chlorpromazine, trifluoperazine, sulphiride and pimozide.