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Migrant status and identification as ultra‐high risk for psychosis and transitioning to a psychotic disorder
Author(s) -
Geros H.,
Sizer H.,
Mifsud N.,
Reynolds S.,
Kim D. J.,
Eaton S.,
McGorry P.,
Nelson B.,
O’Donoghue B.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/acps.13099
Subject(s) - poisson regression , demography , hazard ratio , psychosis , mental health , medicine , cohort , population , proportional hazards model , young adult , psychiatry , cohort study , psychology , gerontology , confidence interval , sociology
Background Certain migrant groups are more likely to develop a psychotic disorder compared to the native‐born populations, and a younger age at migration is associated with greater risk. However, it is not known at which stage migration has an effect on the development of psychotic disorders. We examined whether migrants were more likely to be identified as ultra‐high risk for psychosis (UHR) compared to native‐born young people and whether migrant status was associated with the risk of transition to a full‐threshold psychotic disorder. Methods The cohort included all young people aged 15–24 who were identified as UHR at a specialist clinic over a five‐year period (2012–16). Australian census data were used to obtain the at‐risk population. Poisson regression was used to calculate rate ratios and Cox regression analysis determined hazard ratios. Results 467 young people were identified as UHR, of which 13.5% ( n = 63) were born overseas. First‐generation migrants were 2.6‐fold less likely to be identified as UHR compared to Australian‐born young people (IRR = 0.39, 95% CI [0.30, 0.51], P < 0.001). There was no difference between migrant and native‐born young people in their risk of transitioning to a psychotic disorder (HR = 0.90, 95% CI [0.39, 2.08], P = 0.81). Conclusions UHR first‐generation migrants may be under‐accessing mental health services.