Trauma and Migration in First Episode Psychosis

Abstract

Introduction

Researches show that the period of migration, or the migration process itself, may confer an increased risk for psychosis. Some studies have addressed whether the high rates of psychosis found in migrants could be due to higher genetic or environmental risk factors. Facing severe or chronic stress such as trauma, social isolation, low socio-economic status, late-life social adversity may result in long term, sometimes permanent, alterations of the biological stress response system, leading to the onset of psychosis.

Objectives

This study aims to examine, in a large sample of first episode psychosis patients, whether negative social experiences like stressful life events and difficulties, trauma and isolation have significantly higher frequencies in migrants with respect to natives.

Methods

The present study is conducted within the framework of the EUGEI (European Network of National Schizophrenia Networks Studying Gene Environment Interactions) study, a Europe-wide incidence and case–control study of psychosis conducted in 12 centers chosen to include areas with large first and subsequent generation migrant populations.

Data about age, gender, migration history, trauma, life events, ethnicity, social class and family history of mental disorders have been collected.

Results

Preliminary data on the relationship between trauma and migration in first episode psychosis will be presented.

Conclusions

Since migration is an important stressful life event, and difficulties in integration in host countries may remain chronic, it is important to identify in each context the most vulnerable minority groups in order to implement targeted prevention interventions.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.