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Point prevalence of schizophrenia in immigrant groups in Rotterdam: data from outpatient facilities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

A.C. Schrier ,
B.J.M. van de Wetering ,
P.G.H. Mulder  and
J.P. Selten
A.C. Schrier*
Affiliation:
GGZ Buitenamstel, Osdorpplein 880, 1068 TDAmsterdam, The Netherlands
B.J.M. van de Wetering
Affiliation:
Boumanhuis, Addiction Care, Molenbaan 2, 2908 LMCapelle a/d IJssel, The Netherlands
P.G.H. Mulder
Affiliation:
Erasmus University, Institute of Biostatistics, Dr. Molewaterplein 50, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
J.P. Selten
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
*
*Correspondence and reprints. E-mail address: agnes@acschrier.demon.nl (A.C. Schrier).
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Summary

Objective

Reports of an increased incidence of schizophrenia in some immigrant groups to The Netherlands are based exclusively on hospital data. The aims of our study were: 1) to determine the treated point prevalence of schizophrenia at outpatient mental health services in Rotterdam and to compare the results for immigrants to those for natives; and 2) to compare groups born in The Netherlands and immigrant groups in terms of the proportions of patients with a previous hospital admission.

Method

We included all patients aged between 20 and 64 who were treated for a non-affective psychosis at any of the outpatient mental health services in Rotterdam on October 1, 1994. The mental health professionals responsible reported on the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of each patient.

Results

Seven hundred and thirteen patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia (DSM-III-R) were identified (rate: 2.1 per 1000). The (treated) prevalence of schizophrenia in male immigrants from Surinam and Morocco and in female immigrants from Surinam, the Netherlands Antilles and Cape Verde was significantly higher than that in their native-born counterparts (odds ratios between 2 and 3). The (treated) prevalence was not significantly higher in immigrants from Turkey, female immigrants from Morocco or male immigrants from the Antilles. Proportions of patients with a previous hospital admission were similar in each ethnic group (81–93%).

Conclusion

These findings are generally in line with earlier studies, based on the Dutch psychiatric registry, which has reported an increase in the (treated) incidence of schizophrenia in immigrants from Surinam and the Netherlands Antilles and in male immigrants from Morocco, and no increase in the (treated) incidence in immigrants from Turkey or female immigrants from Morocco.

Keywords

epidemiologymental health servicesmigrationminority groupsNetherlandsschizophrenia
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 16 , Issue 3 , April 2001 , pp. 162 - 166
Copyright
Copyright © Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS 2001

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