Early manifestations, personality traits and pathways into care for Asian and white first-onset cases of schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have shown that manifestations of symptoms and premorbid personality of patients with schizophrenia differ across cultures. However, these have only been demonstrated in cultural settings apart from each other.


METHODS
We set out to compare these across different ethnic groups from a catchment area in west London. The Asian and the white group had similar inception rates of schizophrenia and we therefore decided to compare these two groups to ascertain similarities in social, demographic and personality factors and pathways into care. First-onset cases of schizophrenia were studied on a number of parameters using previously validated instruments.


RESULTS
There were more similarities than differences between the two groups. When compared with the findings of a previous multicentre study in India, London Asians, like their counterparts in India, were more likely than the London white sample to present with loss of appetite, become more religious and behave as if hearing voices. However, compared to their Indian counterparts, the onset of symptoms was more likely to be insidious and alternative sources of healing were less likely to be approached.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings are discussed in relation to the findings for white patients and recommendations made for future research.
Bhugra
D
D
Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London, UK.
Corridan
B
B
Rudge
S
S
Leff
J
J
Mallett
R
R
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000208:ethnology; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D006113:United Kingdom; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data