| This quantitative study utilizes integral inquiry to examine the disproportionate diagnosis rate of schizophrenia among African Americans and contextualizes associated symptoms within cultural-spiritual and chronic stress-trauma paradigms. The study includes 2 protocol designed assessments: the African American Historical Trauma Questionnaire (AAHTQ) and the Assessment of African American Cultural-Spiritual Experiences (ACSE). The pilot sample of 32 African American participants for the AAHTQ included 28 women and 4 men between the ages of 18 to 78, with a mean age of 43. The AAHTQ ( a = .96) and the 4 subscales assess for historical-transgenerational trauma (HT) and HT responses (a = .95), biopsychosocial stressors and responses (a = .77), "negative" perceptions of the future (a = .86), and alcohol use ( a = 1.0). The sample of 12 African American participants for the ACSE and the formal study included 10 women and 2 men; 11 of the participants also had Native American heritage. These participants range from 24 to 61 years, with a mean age of 38. The ACSE offers qualitative data regarding spiritual and ancestral indigenous worldviews; multiple modes of perception (including altered states of consciousness--ASCs); and related beliefs, behaviors, and experiences of the individual and their relatives. The results support the proposed culturally sensitive syndrome of Complex Transgenerational Posttraumatic Stress Syndrome (CTPSS) revealing significant correlations between perceived traumatic experiences (PTEs): historical trauma (HT), race-related stress, and cumulative lifetime trauma; and trauma responses: PTSD symptoms; somatization; emotional, mental, and physical ailments; and drug and alcohol use. |
