title: Clinical symptoms of psychotic episodes and 25-hydroxy vitamin D serum levels in black first-generation immigrants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dark-skinned immigrants have a higher risk for schizophrenia and other psychoses than other immigrants. The first British studies reported that first-generation immigrants (FGIs) from the Caribbean presented atypical psychoses. This study examines the characteristics of psychotic episodes in black FGIs to Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  The charts of 18 FGIs from Africa and Haiti, extracted from a series of 20 black patients consecutively admitted to Psychiatry, were retrospectively reviewed regarding clinical features, diagnoses and vitamin D levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Young FGIs presented acute psychotic episodes with abrupt onset, florid positive symptoms, few negative symptoms and good evolution. The onset was more insidious in older FGIs. Overall, catatonia was very frequent (28%), and mood symptoms still more frequent (44%). No cognitive decline was observed during follow-up. Serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D were in the insufficiency range. Supplementation at 1000 IU/day did not restore normal levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical features of psychotic episodes in black FGIs are similar to those reported in dark-skinned FGIs to other countries. They are also observed in other immigrants and in non-immigrants. These atypical psychoses are possibly related to a recent vitamin D deficit. This hypothesis should be tested by clinical trials of sufficient vitamin D supplementation.
authors: Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Carruthers Hall, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada.
authors: M-J
authors: MJ
authors: Dealberto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D044383:Black People / Q000208:ethnology*; D002170:Canada / Q000208:ethnology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014815:Vitamins / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D
keywords: acute psychotic episodes; atypical psychosis; immigrants; schizophrenia; skin pigmentation; vitamin D