Understanding the excess risk of psychotic disorders in migrant and ethnic minority groups has long been an important research focus in psychiatric epidemiology and public mental health. Heterogeneity between migrant groups based on the region of origin, minority status and other socioeconomic factors may provide clues as to the underlying aetiological mechanisms explaining this risk, as well as informing our general understanding of psychotic disorders. Nonetheless, disentangling the mechanisms underlying this association has been the focus of more speculation and theory to date than empirical research. Now more than ever, we need to move beyond studies which demonstrate excess rates in migrant and ethnic minority groups to novel population-based studies which identify the determinants and mechanisms through which this risk is shaped. In this paper, we review the main hypotheses proposed to explain these disparities and the current level of support for them. We then highlight recent evidence from epidemiology and neuroscience which provides important new clues in our understanding of the aetiology of psychotic disorders. We concluded with suggestions for future interdisciplinary research to prevent this public mental health inequality within a generation. © 2018 Cambridge University Press.

Mental health schizophrenia Public health Epidemiology Minority Issues and Cross-Cultural Psychiatry

schizophrenia demography minority group mental health human epidemiology psychosis ethnology African American mental health care interdisciplinary research neuroscience evidence based practice Humans migrant psychology Minority Groups Socioeconomic Factors Psychotic Disorders risk factor socioeconomics Article migration Culturally Competent Care diagnostic error transcultural care Transients and Migrants interdisciplinary communication