Psychiatry
Volume 8, Issue 9, 2009, Pages 335-341

Ethnicity and mental health: the example of schizophrenia and related psychoses in migrant populations in the Western world (Review)

Fung W.L.A.* , Bhugra D. , Jones P.B.
  • a University of Toronto, Canada, Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
  • b University of Toronto, Canada, Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
  • c University of Toronto, Canada, Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

Abstract

Multiple studies performed over the past few decades using various methodologies have reported 5-10-fold incidence rates for schizophrenia in African-Caribbean communities in Europe, findings that hold across generations. Increased incidences of lesser degree have also been reported in other ethnic minority migrant groups in Europe. Various explanations of this phenomenon have been proposed - such as misdiagnosis, differing nature and course of psychotic illness in different ethnic groups, genetics, predisposition to migration, early life influences and later childhood developmental risk factors, drug use, urbanicity, racism, as well as neurobiological factors. They are reviewed here. Relevant literature from North America is also discussed. Crown Copyright © 2009.

Author Keywords

African-Caribbean Migration Psychiatric symptoms Mental illness schizophrenia migrant Ethnicity Psychosis

Index Keywords

cultural anthropology urban area neurobiology depression schizophrenia mental health human life event psychosis ethnic group priority journal African Caribbean disease course racism cognition risk factor Review genetic predisposition prevalence Incidence migration United Kingdom drug use diagnostic error ethnicity
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-69449104682&doi=10.1016%2fj.mppsy.2009.06.002&partnerID=40&md5=7215a193264cbf5a36049ad2b8b1581d
DOI: 10.1016/j.mppsy.2009.06.002
ISSN: 14761793
Cited by: 9
Original Language: English