Parental separation, loss and psychosis in different ethnic groups: a case-control study.
BACKGROUND
Numerous studies have reported high rates of psychosis in the Black Caribbean and Black African populations in the UK. However, few studies have investigated the role of specific risk factors in different ethnic groups. We sought to investigate the relationship between long-term separation from, and death of, a parent before the age of 16 and risk of adult psychosis in different ethnic groups.


METHODS
All patients with a first episode of psychosis who made contact with psychiatric services in defined catchment areas in London and Nottingham, UK and a series of community controls were included in the AESOP (Aetiology and Ethnicity in Schizophrenia and Other Psychoses) study. Data relating to clinical and social variables, including parental separation and loss, were collected from patients and controls.


RESULTS
Separation from, and death of, a parent before the age of 16 were both strongly associated with a two- to threefold increased risk of psychosis. The strength of these associations were similar for White British and Black Caribbean (but not Black African) subjects. Separation from (but not death of) a parent was more common among Black Caribbean controls than White British controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Early separation may have a greater impact in the Black Caribbean population, because it is more common, and may contribute to the excess of psychosis in this population.
Morgan
Craig
C
Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK. spjucrm@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Kirkbride
James
J
Leff
Julian
J
Craig
Tom
T
Hutchinson
Gerard
G
McKenzie
Kwame
K
Morgan
Kevin
K
Dazzan
Paola
P
Doody
Gillian A
GA
Jones
Peter
P
Murray
Robin
R
Fearon
Paul
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001601:Bereavement; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004243:Divorce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*