Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Volume 36, Issue 11, 2001, Pages 533-536

Urban birth and migrant status as risk factors for psychosis: An Australian case-control study (Article)

McGarth J. , El-Saadi O. , Cardy S. , Chapple B. , Chant D. , Mowry B.
  • a Queensland Centre Schizophrenia Res., Wolston Park Hospital, Wacol, QLD 4076, Australia
  • b Queensland Centre Schizophrenia Res., Wolston Park Hospital, Wacol, QLD 4076, Australia
  • c Queensland Centre Schizophrenia Res., Wolston Park Hospital, Wacol, QLD 4076, Australia
  • d Queensland Centre Schizophrenia Res., Wolston Park Hospital, Wacol, QLD 4076, Australia
  • e Queensland Centre Schizophrenia Res., Wolston Park Hospital, Wacol, QLD 4076, Australia
  • f Queensland Centre Schizophrenia Res., Wolston Park Hospital, Wacol, QLD 4076, Australia

Abstract

Background. Urban birth and migrant status have been identified as risk factors for psychosis in North American and European studies. The aim of this study was to explore these variables in an Australian case-control study. Method. Country of birth of subjects and their parents, and place of birth of Australian-born subjects, were examined in individuals with psychosis drawn from a prevalence study (n = 310) and well controls recruited from the same catchment area (n = 303). Results. Migrant status was associated with a significantly decreased odds of having a psychotic disorder. For those born in Australia, neither migrant status of parents nor urban birth was associated with having a psychotic disorder. Conclusions. The lack of effect for urban birth and second-generation migrant status may help generate candidate environmental risk factors that operate in Europe but not in Australia.

Author Keywords

Urban health Migrants psychotic disorders risk factors schizophrenia Epidemiology

Index Keywords

urban population urban area birth Australia schizophrenia methodology Europe human risk assessment Schizophrenic Psychology middle aged psychosis controlled study Health Surveys North America Humans Adolescent male environmental factor female Psychotic Disorders risk factor Risk Factors prevalence Article major clinical study adult migration Queensland Emigration and Immigration Case-Control Studies residential care case control study parent
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0035212286&doi=10.1007%2fs001270170003&partnerID=40&md5=2cad4943551b153f75b42e86183f44fb
DOI: 10.1007/s001270170003
ISSN: 09337954
Cited by: 27
Original Language: English