Incidence of psychotic disorders in immigrant groups to the Netherlands

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Abstract
Background: Previous reports on the incidence of schizophrenia in immigrant groups to The Netherlands were based on hospital data.Aims: To compare the incidence of psychotic disorders in the immigrant groups to that in natives.Method: Two-year first-contact incidence study in The Hague.Results: The risks of schizophrenia, schizophreniform or schizoaffective disorder (DSM–IV criteria) were increased for subjects born in Morocco (gender and age-adjusted relative risk=4.5; 95% CI 1.4–8.5), Surinam (relative risk=3.2; 1.8–5.7), The Netherlands Antilles (relative risk=2.9; 0.9–9.5) and other non-Western countries (relative risk=2.4; 1.3–4.7). This risk was also increased for Moroccans (relative risk=8.0; 2.6–24.5) and Surinamese (relative risk=5.5; 2.5–11.9) of the second generation. The risks for Turkish immigrants, first or second generation, and for immigrants from Western countries were not significantly increased.Conclusions: This study indicates that the incidence of schizophrenia is increased in several, but not all, immigrant groups to The Netherlands. It is possible that factors associated with a process of rapid westernisation precipitate schizophrenia in people who are genetically at risk.