American Journal of Psychiatry
Volume 168, Issue 12, 2011, Pages 1278-1285

Age at migration and future risk of psychotic disorders among immigrants in the Netherlands: A 7-year incidence study (Article)

Veling W.* , Hoek H.W. , Selten J.-P. , Susser E.
  • a Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, The Hague, Netherlands, Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands, Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Stichting Rivierduinen, Leiden, Netherlands
  • b Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, The Hague, Netherlands, Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands, Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Stichting Rivierduinen, Leiden, Netherlands
  • c Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, The Hague, Netherlands, Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands, Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Stichting Rivierduinen, Leiden, Netherlands
  • d Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, The Hague, Netherlands, Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands, Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Stichting Rivierduinen, Leiden, Netherlands

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine whether the increased risk for developing a psychotic disorder among immigrants is related to their age at the time of migration. Method: In a 7-year first-contact incidence study, immigrants to the Netherlands and Dutch citizens, ages 15-54 years, who made a first contact with a physician for a suspected psychotic disorder were identified. Diagnostic interviews were administered, and DSM-IV diagnoses were determined by consensus between two psychiatrists. A comprehensive municipal registration system provided the denominator, including information on ethnicity and age at the time of migration. Results: Lower age at the time of migration was associated with a higher incidence of psychotic disorders among immigrants. People who migrated between the ages of 0 and 4 years had the most elevated risk for psychotic disorders compared with the risk among Dutch citizens (age- and sex-adjusted incidence rate ratio=2.96, 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.10-4.17), and the risk gradually decreased with older age at migration (adjusted incidence rate ratio for migration at 5-9 years, 10-14 years, and >29 years, respectively: 2.31 [CI=1.61-3.29], 1.51 [CI=1.02-2.25], and 1.00 [CI=0.58-1.72]). Conclusions: The adverse influence of migration on the risk for psychotic disorders is most prominent in early life, suggesting that this is an important period in the etiology of the illness.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Netherlands immigrant psychological aspect human risk assessment middle aged statistics psychosis Cohort Studies controlled study priority journal diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders population risk school child Humans Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants preschool child clinical evaluation Psychotic Disorders risk factor Infant Risk Factors female Incidence Article early life stress major clinical study adult migration age Age Factors cohort analysis Emigration and Immigration ethnicity disease association Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84857086908&doi=10.1176%2fappi.ajp.2011.11010110&partnerID=40&md5=4a7ef05f2878cefc8de235360a0b7164
DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2011.11010110
ISSN: 0002953X
Cited by: 54
Original Language: English