Psychosis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Psychosis, including details on clinical depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder.

Psychotic symptoms in the general population of England--a comparison of ethnic groups (The EMPIRIC study).

King M, Nazroo J, Weich S, McKenzie K, Bhui K, Karlsen S, Karlson S, Stansfeld S, Tyrer P, Blanchard M, Lloyd K, McManus S, Sproston K, Erens B

Dept. of Mental Health Sciences, Royal Free & University College Medical School Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK.

BACKGROUND: There is considerable evidence that incidence of schizophrenia and other psychoses varies across ethnic groups in the UK, with particularly high rates for people of African-Caribbean origin. AIMS: The aims of this shady were to estimate in a community-based sample of people from ethnic minorities: 1) the prevalence of psychotic symptoms; and 2) risk factors for reporting psychotic symptoms. METHOD: Face-to-face interviews were carried out with a probabilistic sample of 4281 adults from six ethnic groups living in the UK. Psychotic symptoms were measured using the psychosis screening questionnaire (PSQ). RESULTS: There was a twofold higher rate of reporting psychotic symptoms on the PSQ in Black Caribbean people compared with Whites. Adjustment for demographic factors had little effect on this association. CONCLUSION: Prevalence rates of psychotic symptoms were higher in people from ethnic minorities, but were not consistent with the much higher first contact rates for psychotic disorder reported previously, particularly in Black Caribbeans.

Published 19 May 2005 in Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol, 40(5): 375-81.
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