Abstract
Purpose
Incidence rates of psychotic disorders are higher in immigrant groups compared to native populations. This increased risk
may partly be explained by misdiagnosis. Neurocognitive deficits are a core feature of psychotic disorders, but little is
known about the relationship between migration and cognition in psychotic disorders. We examined whether immigrant patients
have cognitive deficits similar to non-immigrant patients, in order to investigate the plausibility of misdiagnosis as explanation
for increased incidence rates.
may partly be explained by misdiagnosis. Neurocognitive deficits are a core feature of psychotic disorders, but little is
known about the relationship between migration and cognition in psychotic disorders. We examined whether immigrant patients
have cognitive deficits similar to non-immigrant patients, in order to investigate the plausibility of misdiagnosis as explanation
for increased incidence rates.
Results
407 Patients diagnosed with a non-affective psychotic disorder completed cognitive assessment (157 Dutch, 250 immigrants).
Both Dutch and immigrant patients showed large cognitive deficits. Between-subgroup comparisons revealed large cognitive deficits
for immigrants compared to Dutch, especially for immigrants from Morocco, Turkey and other non-Western countries.
Both Dutch and immigrant patients showed large cognitive deficits. Between-subgroup comparisons revealed large cognitive deficits
for immigrants compared to Dutch, especially for immigrants from Morocco, Turkey and other non-Western countries.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s00127-012-0521-x
- Authors
- Luyken H. Stouten, Centre for Early Psychosis, Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Lijnbaan 4, 2512 VA The Hague, The Netherlands
- Wim Veling, Centre for Early Psychosis, Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Lijnbaan 4, 2512 VA The Hague, The Netherlands
- Mischa van der Helm, Centre for Early Psychosis, Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Lijnbaan 4, 2512 VA The Hague, The Netherlands
- Winfried Laan, Centre for Early Psychosis, Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Lijnbaan 4, 2512 VA The Hague, The Netherlands
- Mark van der Gaag, Centre for Early Psychosis, Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Lijnbaan 4, 2512 VA The Hague, The Netherlands
- Journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
- Online ISSN 1433-9285
- Print ISSN 0933-7954