Migration and Psychosis: Evidence from South Asian Communities in Bradford

Abstract

Objective: To study the risk of psychosis in south Asian communities in Bradford and investigate the role of cannabis as a contributory factor.
Study Design: Naturalistic studies based on electronic summary records.
Place and Duration of Study: The studies were conducted at the Becklin Centre, St James's University Hospital, Leeds and the University of Leeds, School of Medicine from 2018 to 2020.
Material and Method: A service evaluation and research project looking into the role of cannabis included 194  patients admitted to acute psychiatry wards at the Becklin Centre between 1 January 2016 and 30 November 2018. Epidemiological study used electronic summary records provided by the Bradford Early Intervention for Psychosis Service of 15-35-year old newly diagnosed cases with first episode psychosis in 2013-15 and local census data to calculate the risks ratios.
Results: Compared with indigenous white population, Pakistanis in Bradford had significantly higher risk of psychosis (RR: 1.41, 95% CI 1.07, 1.85*). This trend was also seen in Bangladeshi community (RR 1.72, 95% CI 0.91, 3.28*). Indian community, on the other hand, experienced lower risk (RR 0.54, 95% CI 0.20, 1.27).
Conclusion: We found increased risk of psychosis in Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities but not in Indian community.