Background. Several previous studies have indicated high
rates
of schizophrenia in African-Caribbeans in the UK compared to White population.
Method. All people aged 18 to 64 years residing in two health
districts in London who made contact
with hospital or community services over a 1-year (Whites) or 2-year (ethnic
minorities) period were screened for psychotic symptoms.
Results. One hundred and twenty-three patients passed the screen,
of whom 100 were assigned a
schizophrenic class by the CATEGO program. Of these, 38 were White, 38
African-Caribbean and
24 Asian. The incidence rate for broad schizophrenia was significantly
higher for African-Caribbeans than for Whites. Asians showed a high rate
among people age 30 and over, particularly
women. Poor outcome at 1-year follow-up was significantly more common for
African-Caribbeans
than for the other two groups. The proportion of African-Caribbeans with
a poor outcome was two
and a half times greater than that of Whites. On a range of seven
socio-demographic variables,
African-Caribbeans differed from the other two groups only on unemployment.
Conclusions. A multitide of factors play a role in the aetiology
of schizophrenia. Comparison of
environmental factors in these groups may identify factors that contribute
to the aetiology of schizophrenia.