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


OBJECTIVE
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
King
Michael
M
Dept. of Mental Health Sciences, Royal Free & University College Medical School Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK.
Nazroo
James
J
Weich
Scott
S
McKenzie
Kwame
K
Bhui
Kam
K
Karlsen
Saffron
S
Karlson
Saffron
S
Stansfeld
Stephen
S
Tyrer
Peter
P
Blanchard
Martin
M
Lloyd
Keith
K
McManus
Sally
S
Sproston
Kerry
K
Erens
Bob
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000208:ethnology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data