Risk of psychosis in Yorkshire African, Caribbean and Mixed Ethnic communities

Background: An elevated risk of psychosis in migrant and ethnic minority groups has been frequently reported. Previous UK studies have found an elevated risk in African-Caribbean, African and Mixed Ethnic groups, but risks for these groups in West Yorkshire are not known.

Aim: To carry out a naturalistic study of the relative risk of psychosis in Yorkshire African, African-Caribbean and Mixed Ethnic groups as compared with the British White population.

Method: We used data from Early Intervention for Psychosis services on 15–35 year-olds diagnosed with first episode psychosis (ICD-10, F20-29) in 2013–2015 and local census data to calculate risks.

Results: Risk ratios (RR) are significantly increased in African (RR 3.23: 95% CI, 2.46, 4.25), African Caribbean (RR 3.15: 95% CI, 2.04, 4.85) and Mixed Ethnic group (RR 2.27: 95% CI, 1.77, 2.91).

Conclusion: Risks are elevated but not as much as elsewhere in England. The reasons for this difference require further investigation.