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First-contact incidence rate of schizophrenia on Barbados

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

George E. Mahy ,
Rosemarie Mallett ,
Julian Leff  and
Dinesh Bhugra
George E. Mahy*
Affiliation:
School of Clinical Medicine and Research, University of the West Indies, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, St Michael, Barbados
Rosemarie Mallett
Affiliation:
School of Clinical Medicine and Research, University of the West Indies, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, St Michael, Barbados
Julian Leff
Affiliation:
School of Clinical Medicine and Research, University of the West Indies, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, St Michael, Barbados
Dinesh Bhugra
Affiliation:
School of Clinical Medicine and Research, University of the West Indies, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, St Michael, Barbados
*
G. E. Mahy, Senior Lecturer, School of Clinical Medicine and Research, University of the West Indies, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, St Michael, Barbados
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Abstract

Background

The incidence rate for broad schizophrenia among second-generation African–Caribbean people in the United Kingdom has been reported as high. Ethnicity, migration and psychosocial stressors have been suggested as causal factors.

Aims

To determine the incidence of schizophrenia for the whole population of Barbados using an identical methodology to two previous studies in Trinidad (Bhugra et al, 1996) and London (Bhugra et al, 1997)

Method

A12-month study of all persons in the 18–54-year age group presenting with a psychosis for the first time was carried out on the population of Barbados. Information was collected using World Health Organization screening and measurement instruments.

Results

On an island of just over a quarter of a million, 40 out of the 53 patients that met the inclusion criteria were categorised as S+ (narrow) schizophrenia, giving an incidence rate of 2.8/10 000 (95% CI 1.97–3.7). The incidence rate for broad schizophrenia was calculated at 3.2/10 000 (95% CI 2.3–4.1), which is significantly lower than the comparable rate for London's African–Caribbeans of 6.6/10000 (95% CI 4.5–8.7)

Conclusions

The very high rate for broad schizophrenia among African–Caribbean people in the UK is probably due to environmental factors.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 175 , Issue 1 , July 1999 , pp. 28 - 33
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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Footnotes

Declaration of interest

Support received from the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts.

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