Skip to main content
Log in

First psychiatric admission rates of first and second generation Afro Caribbeans

  • Published:
Social psychiatry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

First psychiatric admission rates for Whites and first and second generation Afro Caribbeans are compared. The definition of second generation is widened so as to include both British-born Afro Caribbeans and those who migrated as children. Second generation rates are raised for all diagnostic categories examined, especially for schizophrenia (both sexes) and cannabis psychosis in males. Overall rates for first generation Afro Caribbeans do not differ significantly from Whites, but rates for schizophrenia are much higher. These results are discussed with reference to previous literature on mental illness and ethnic groups.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bagley C (1971) The social aetiology of schizophrenia in immigrant groups. Int J Soc Psychiatry 17: 292–304

    Google Scholar 

  • Bagley C (1975) Sequels of alienation: a social psychological view of the adaptation of West Indian migrants in Britain. In: Glaser K (ed) Case studies of human rights and fundamental freedoms, vol 2. The Hague, Nijhoff

    Google Scholar 

  • Bebbington PE, Harvey J, Tennant C (1981) Psychiatric disorders in selected immigrant groups in camberwell. Soc Psychiatry 16: 43–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Birmingham Central Statistical Office (1984) Report No 24

  • Birmingham Evening Mail (1985) Judge Raps 'Do-Gooder'. 19.10. 85.

  • Black Health Workers and Patients Group (1983) Psychiatry and the corporate state. Race and Class XXV: 49–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Brook MG (1984) Psychosis after cannabis abuse (Letter). Br Med J 1984: 288, 1381

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown C (1984) Black and White Britain: The third PSI survey. London, Heinemann

    Google Scholar 

  • Burke AW (1984) Racism and psychological disturbance among West Indians in Britain. Int J Soc Psychiatry 30: 50–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Carney P, Lipsedge M (1984) Psychosis after cannabis abuse (Letter) Br Med J 288: 1381

    Google Scholar 

  • Carney MWP, Bacelle L, Robinson B (1984a) Psychosis after cannabis abuse. Br Med J 288: 1047

    Google Scholar 

  • Carney MWP, Bacelle L, Robinson B (1984b) Psychosis after cannabis abuse (Letter). Br Med J 288: 1836

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter L, Brockington I (1980) A study of mental illness in Asians, West Indians and Africans living in Manchester. Br J Psychiatry 137: 201–205

    Google Scholar 

  • Cochrane R (1977) Mental illness in immigrants to England and Wales. Soc Psychiatry 12: 25–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Cochrane R (1979) Psychological and behavioural disturbance in West Indians, Indians and Pakistanis in Britain: a comparison of rates among children and adults. Br J Psychiatry 134: 201–210

    Google Scholar 

  • Cochrane R (1983) The social creation of mental illness. Longman OPCS

  • Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) (1986) Aspects of mental health in a multicultural society. Commission for Racial Equality, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Community Relations Commission (CRC) (1977) Housing choice and ethnic concentration. An attitude study. Community Relations Commission, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Dean G, Walsh D, Downing H, Shelley E (1981) First admissions of native born and immigrants to psychiatric hospital in South East England. Br J Psychiatry 139: 506–511

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of the Environment (DOE) (1979) National housing and dwelling survey. HMSO

  • DHSS (1983) In patient statistics from the mental health enquiry for England 1978. Statistical and Research Report Series. No. 24. HMSO London

    Google Scholar 

  • Economic Development Committee of the West Midlands County Council (1984) A statistical profile of unemployment in the West Midlands Report of 5. 9. 84

  • Fernando S (1984) Racism as a cause of depression. Int J Soc Psychiatry 30: 41–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg D, Huxley P (1980) Mental illness in the community. The pathway to psychiatric care. Tavistock, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiev A (1965) Psychiatry morbidity of West Indian immigrants in an urban group practice. Br J Psychiatry 111: 51–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Kino FF (1947) Refugee psychosis in Britain: aliens paranoid reaction. J Mental Sci 97: 589–594

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindelius R (1970) A study of schizophrenia. Acta Psychiatr Scand [Suppl] 216

  • Littlewood R, Lipsedge M (1981a) Acute psychotic reaction in Caribbean-born patients. Psychol Med 11: 303–318

    Google Scholar 

  • Littlewood R, Lipsedge M (1981b) Some social and phenomenological characteristics of psychotic immigrants. Psychol Med 11: 289–302

    Google Scholar 

  • Littlewood R, Lipsedge M (1982) Aliens and alienists: ethnic minorities and psychiatry. Penguin, Hammondsworth

    Google Scholar 

  • McGovern DA, Cope RV (1987) The compulsory detention of males of different ethnic groups with special reference to offender patients. Br J Psychiatry 150: 505–512

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer-Gross W, Slater G, Roth M (1977) Clinical psychiatry. Bailliere Tindall, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrison L (1976) As they see it. A race relations study of three areas from a Black viewpoint. Commission for Racial Equality, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Mukherjee S, Shukla S, Woodle J, Rosen AM, Olarte S (1983) Misdiagnosis of schizophrenia in bipolar patients: a multi-ethnic comparison. Am J Psychiatry 140: 1571–1574

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy HHM (1973) Migration and the major mental disorder: a reappraisal. In: Swingman CA, Pfister-Ammende M (eds) Uprooting and after. Springer, New York Berlin Heidelberg

    Google Scholar 

  • Ødegaard Ø (1932) Emigration and insanity. Act Psychiatr Neurol [Suppl] 4: 1–206

    Google Scholar 

  • Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) (1982a). Census 1981 County Report, West Midlands Part I. London HMSO

    Google Scholar 

  • Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) (1982b) Census 1981. Country of Birth Great Britain. London: HMSO

    Google Scholar 

  • Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) (1982c) Labour Force Survey 1981. London, HMSO

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker R, Kleiner S (1966) Mental illness in the urban negro community. Free Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • New Society (1986) 21. 2. 86, pp 312–315

  • Pollert A (1984) Racial discrimination and the youth training scheme. Economic development committee. West Midlands County Council

  • Pryce K (1978) Lifestyles of West Indians in Britain: a study of Bristol. N Commun 6: 207–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Rack P (1982) Race, culture and mental disorder. Tavistock, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Ratcliffe P (1981) Racism and reaction: a profile of handsworth. Routledge and Kegan Paul, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Rottanburg D, Robins A, Ben Avie O, (1982) Cannabis associated psychosis with hypomanic features. Lancet I: 1364–1365

    Google Scholar 

  • Royes K (1962) The incidence and features of psychosis in a Caribbean community. In: Proceedings of the third world congress of psychiatry. Montreal. University of Toronto Press, Toronto and McGill University Press, Toronto

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter M, Madge N (1976) Cycles of disadvantage: a review of research. Heinmann, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Rwegellera GGC (1977) Psychiatric morbidity among West Africans and West Indians living in London. Psychol Med 7: 317–329

    Google Scholar 

  • Tewfik GI, Okasha A (1965) Psychosis and immigration. Postgrad Med J 41: 603–612

    Google Scholar 

  • Troyna B (1979) Differential commitment to ethnic identity by Black youths in Britain. N Commun 7: 406–421

    Google Scholar 

  • Walvin J (1984) Passage to Britain. Harmondsworth, Middlesex

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McGovern, D., Cope, R.V. First psychiatric admission rates of first and second generation Afro Caribbeans. Soc Psychiatry 22, 139–149 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00583848

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00583848

Keywords

Navigation