Ethnic differences in psychosis-Lay epidemiology explanations

Area of Science:

• Mental Health Research
• Psychiatric Epidemiology
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• Elevated rates of psychosis diagnoses in the Black community are well-documented.
• Limited research explores the perspectives of Black African and Caribbean service users on these disparities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand how Black African and Caribbean service users perceive and explain elevated psychosis rates within their communities.

Main Methods:

• Four focus groups conducted with 35 participants from Black African and Black Caribbean communities in South East London.
• Participants were diagnosed with a psychotic illness.
• Recruitment utilized community contacts and a voluntary sector organization.

Main Results:

• Participants identified an elevated risk of psychosis linked to ethnic minority status.
• Key explanations included accumulated stressors from disadvantage, inequitable mental health service experiences, lack of community support, and a "double stigma" (external discrimination and internal community stigma).

Conclusions:

• Black mental health service users attribute higher psychosis risk to stressors stemming from ethnic minority status.