First-contact incidence of schizophrenia in Surinam.
We tested the hypothesis that the increased incidence of schizophrenia among Surinamese immigrants to The Netherlands could be explained by a similarly high incidence in Surinam. We conducted a 1-year first-contact incidence study in Surinam and compared the findings with data from a similar study conducted in The Netherlands using the same inclusion criteria and instruments. The risk of developing a schizophrenic disorder was 2.4 times higher (95% CI 1.3-4.2) in Surinamese immigrants than in residents of Surinam. The increased risk is probably due to environmental factors in The Netherlands.
Selten
Jean-Paul
JP
Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. j.p.selten@psych.azu.nl
Zeyl
Caroline
C
Dwarkasing
Rudi
R
Lumsden
Vincent
V
Kahn
Renè S
RS
Van Harten
Peter N
PN
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012306:Risk; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013532:Suriname / Q000208:ethnology; D014505:Urban Population