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Outcome of psychosis in people of African–Caribbean family origin

Population-based first-episode study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Glynn Harrison ,
Shazad Amin ,
Swaran P. Singh ,
Tim Croudace  and
Peter Jones
Glynn Harrison*
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
Shazad Amin
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatry, University of Nottingham, Nottingham
Swaran P. Singh
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatry, University of Nottingham, Nottingham
Tim Croudace
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatry, University of Nottingham, Nottingham
Peter Jones
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatry, University of Nottingham, Nottingham
*
G. Harrison, Division of Psychiatry, University of Bristol, 41 St Michael's Hill, Bristol BS2 8DZ
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Abstract

Background

An increased incidence of psychotic disorders has repeatedly been reported among African–Caribbeans in the UK.

Aims

To test whether the increased incidence of psychotic disorders in first-and second-generation African–Caribbeans in the UK could be caused by a relative excess of affective-related psychoses with good prognosis.

Method

Thirty-three patients of African–Caribbean family origin identified in a population-based study of first-episode psychoses were compared with the remaining cases. Three-year outcomes and patterns of course were compared.

Results

There was a trend for better outcomes in African–Caribbean patients for symptoms and social disability, but patterns of course were similar (odds ratio=0.9 (–0.50 to –2.00)). Pattern of course improved after adjustment for confounding by gender, social class, age, diagnosis and duration of untreated illness (odds ratio=0.59 (–0.21 to –1.66)). Diagnostic profiles were similar, with no evidence of greater diagnostic instability in the African–Caribbean group.

Conclusion

Pattern of course of psychosis did not differ significantly by ethnic family background. An excess of good-prognosis affective psychoses is an unlikely explanation for increased rates of psychosis in African–Caribbeans.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 175 , Issue 1 , July 1999 , pp. 43 - 49
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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Footnotes

Declaration of interest

Support received from the National Health Service Executive (Trent Research & Development).

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