First Episode Psychosis After Recent Mid-life Emigration From Afghanistan: A Case Report

Immigration is considered a general risk factor for psychotic disorders, and migrants with a history of trauma exposure are likely to be at an elevated risk of developing psychosis. This is increasingly important with recent political instability, war, and violent trauma creating a wave of new refugee populations worldwide. The Afghan population has a particularly high rate of trauma exposure and also has a high rate of experiencing psychotic symptoms, yet Afghan refugees are the least likely to use antipsychotics compared with other refugee groups. This case report highlights the presentation of an Afghan immigrant who developed a first episode of psychosis shortly after mid-life migration following recent war trauma. The patient was treated and responded well to a long-acting injectable antipsychotic.