Ethnicity, deprivation and psychosis: the Glasgow experience.

Dear Editor, Ever since Odegaard’s studies in the early part of the 20th century there has been considerable interest regarding the differences in the rates of psychosis among native and non-native populations (Odegaard, 1932). There is a substantial body of research that demonstrates increased rates of psychosis among the Black African and Caribbean population in the UK (Fearon et al. 2006). One of the proposed reasons for the higher rates of psychosis among Black and minority ethnic (BME) groups is the greater level of socio-economic disadvantage among these groups (Morgan et al. 2010). Studies have demonstrated higher rates of hospital admission and use of the mental health act (MHA) among BME patients when compared with White patients (Bhui et al. 2003). These findings have significant implications for mental health policy and service provision. The aim of our Glasgow-based study was to examine the prevalence of psychosis in BME compared with White population; to compare admission rates and MHA detention rates in these populations; and to examine if prevalence rates of psychosis varied with deprivation status across the ethnic groups.