Immigration, Social Environment and Onset of Psychotic Disorders

TY - JOUR

T1 - Immigration, Social Environment and Onset of Psychotic Disorders

AU - Bourque, Francois

AU - van der Ven, Elsje

AU - Fusar-Poli, Paolo

AU - Malla, Ashok

PY - 2012/2

Y1 - 2012/2

N2 - The recent decade has been characterized by a resurging interest for socio-environmental determinants of psychotic disorders, largely as a result of findings from studies of migration and psychotic disorders. This contribution reviews recent meta-analytic findings which confirm higher incidence rates of schizophrenia and related disorders among first-and second-generation immigrants than in non-immigrant populations, as well as substantial risk variation according to both ethnic minority groups and host society contexts. The relevance of social contexts in the onset of psychosis is also suggested by incidence variation according to the neighbourhood level ethnic density. While limited, an emerging literature suggests potential variations in psychotic-like experiences and at-risk mental states according to ethnic minority status. We then discuss the meaning of findings from migrant studies, as well as integrative models that attempt to account for ethnic variations in the incidence of psychosis and psychotic-like phenomena. In conclusion, there remain numerous gaps in our understanding of the relation between migration, ethnicity, social contexts and the onset of psychosis and we propose future research avenues to address these. In particular, there is a need for multilevel approaches integrating disciplines and methodologies across the psychosis continuum.

AB - The recent decade has been characterized by a resurging interest for socio-environmental determinants of psychotic disorders, largely as a result of findings from studies of migration and psychotic disorders. This contribution reviews recent meta-analytic findings which confirm higher incidence rates of schizophrenia and related disorders among first-and second-generation immigrants than in non-immigrant populations, as well as substantial risk variation according to both ethnic minority groups and host society contexts. The relevance of social contexts in the onset of psychosis is also suggested by incidence variation according to the neighbourhood level ethnic density. While limited, an emerging literature suggests potential variations in psychotic-like experiences and at-risk mental states according to ethnic minority status. We then discuss the meaning of findings from migrant studies, as well as integrative models that attempt to account for ethnic variations in the incidence of psychosis and psychotic-like phenomena. In conclusion, there remain numerous gaps in our understanding of the relation between migration, ethnicity, social contexts and the onset of psychosis and we propose future research avenues to address these. In particular, there is a need for multilevel approaches integrating disciplines and methodologies across the psychosis continuum.

KW - Migration

KW - first- and second-generation immigrants

KW - ethnic minorities

KW - prodromal psychosis

KW - incidence

KW - psychotic disorders

KW - social context

KW - POPULATION-BASED COHORT

KW - 1ST EPISODE PSYCHOSIS

KW - RISK-FACTOR

KW - ETHNIC-MINORITIES

KW - 2ND-GENERATION IMMIGRANTS

KW - PSYCHIATRIC MORBIDITY

KW - 1ST-CONTACT INCIDENCE

KW - CARIBBEAN PATIENTS

KW - MENTAL-HEALTH

KW - NATIVE-BORN

U2 - 10.2174/138161212799316028

DO - 10.2174/138161212799316028

M3 - Literature review

SN - 1381-6128

VL - 18

SP - 518

EP - 526

JO - Current Pharmaceutical Design

JF - Current Pharmaceutical Design

IS - 4

ER -