Parental separation, loss and psychosis in different ethnic groups: a case-control study.

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Authors

Morgan, Craig
Kirkbride, James
Leff, Julian
Craig, Tom
Hutchinson, Gerard
McKenzie, Kwame
Morgan, Kevin
Dazzan, Paola
Doody, Gillian A
Jones, Peter

Issue Date

2007-Apr

Type

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

en

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Abstract

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.
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.
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.
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.

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Citation

Morgan, C., Kirkbride, J., Leff, J., Craig, T., Hutchinson, G., McKenzie, K., Morgan, K., Dazzan, P., Doody, G. A., Jones, P., Murray, R., & Fearon, P. (2007). Parental separation, loss and psychosis in different ethnic groups: a case-control study. Psychological medicine, 37(4), 495–503. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291706009330

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Journal

Psychological medicine

Volume

37

Issue

4

PubMed ID

ISSN

0033-2917

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