Point prevalence of schizophrenia in immigrant groups in Rotterdam: data from outpatient facilities

Objective. Reports of an increased incidence of schizophrenia in some immig rant groups to The Netherlands are based exclusively on hospital data. The aims of our study were: 1) to determine the treated point prevalence of sch izophrenia at outpatient mental health services in Rotterdam and to compare the results for immigrants to those for natives; and 2) to compare groups born in The Netherlands and immigrant groups in terms of the proportions of patients with a previous hospital admission. Method. We included all patie nts aged between 20 and 64 who were treated for a non-affective psychosis a t any of the outpatient mental health services in Rotterdam on October 1, 1 994. The mental health professionals responsible reported on the socio-demo graphic and clinical characteristics of each patient. Results. Seven hundre d and thirteen patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia (DSM-III-R) were identified (rate: 2.1 per 1000), The (treated) prevalence of schizophrenia in male immigrants from Surinam and Morocco and in female immigrants from S urinam, the Netherlands Antilles and Cape Verde was significantly higher th an that in their native-born counterparts (odds ratios between 2 and 3). Th e (treated) prevalence was not significantly higher in immigrants from Turk ey, female immigrants from Morocco or male immigrants from the Antilles. Pr oportions of patients with a previous hospital admission were similar in ea ch ethnic group (81-93%). Conclusion. These findings are generally in line with earlier studies, based on the Dutch psychiatric registry, which has re ported an increase in the (treated) incidence of schizophrenia in immigrant s from Surinam and the Netherlands Antilles and in male immigrants from Mor occo, and no increase in the (treated) incidence in immigrants from Turkey or female immigrants from Morocco. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medic ates Elsevier SAS.