Recent evidence suggests that high rates of schizophrenia in first- and second-generation immigrants could be due to exposure to environmental factors such as viral infections in the host country. These findings are discussed alongside parallel data relating to other diseases such as multiple sclerosis and diabetes mellitus. It is argued that in each case the interaction between the environmental agent and constitutional factors related to the immune system need to be considered. © 1993 Springer-Verlag.

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immune system male Short Survey diabetes mellitus environmental factor female immigrant Emigration and Immigration virus infection Environment multiple sclerosis schizophrenia human Support, Non-U.S. Gov't