Urbanicity and rates of untreated psychotic disorders in three diverse settings in the Global South.

Journal: Psychological medicine

Volume: 53

Issue: 14

Year of Publication: 

Affiliated Institutions:  ESRC Centre for Society & Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK. Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, USA. Department of Psychiatry, University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus, Trinidad & Tobago. Schizophrenia Research Foundation, Chennai, India. Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. Department of Population, Practice and Policy, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK. Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK. Department of Population Health, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK. MRC International Statistics & Epidemiology Group, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK. Mental Health Research Group, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.

Abstract summary 

Extensive evidence indicates that rates of psychotic disorder are elevated in more urban compared with less urban areas, but this evidence largely originates from Northern Europe. It is unclear whether the same association holds globally. This study examined the association between urban residence and rates of psychotic disorder in catchment areas in India (Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu), Nigeria (Ibadan, Oyo), and Northern Trinidad.Comprehensive case detection systems were developed based on extensive pilot work to identify individuals aged 18-64 with previously untreated psychotic disorders residing in each catchment area (May 2018-April/May/July 2020). Area of residence and basic demographic details were collected for eligible cases. We compared rates of psychotic disorder in the more less urban administrative areas within each catchment area, based on all cases detected, and repeated these analyses while restricting to recent onset cases (<2 years/<5 years).We found evidence of higher overall rates of psychosis in more urban areas within the Trinidadian catchment area (IRR: 3.24, 95% CI 2.68-3.91), an inverse association in the Nigerian catchment area (IRR: 0.68, 95% CI 0.51-0.91) and no association in the Indian catchment area (IRR: 1.18, 95% CI 0.93-1.52). When restricting to recent onset cases, we found a modest positive association in the Indian catchment area.This study suggests that urbanicity is associated with higher rates of psychotic disorder in some but not all contexts outside of Northern Europe. Future studies should test candidate mechanisms that may underlie the associations observed, such as exposure to violence.

Authors & Co-authors:  Roberts Tessa T Susser Ezra E Lee Pow Joni J Donald Casswina C John Sujit S Raghavan Vijaya V Ayinde Olatunde O Olley Bola B Miguel Esponda Georgina G Lam Joseph J Murray Robin M RM Cohen Alex A Weiss Helen A HA Hutchinson Gerard G Thara Rangaswamy R Gureje Oye O Burns Jonathan J Morgan Craig C

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  Attademo, L., Bernardini, F., Garinella, R., & Compton, M. T. (2017). Environmental pollution and risk of psychotic disorders: A review of the science to date. Schizophrenia Research, 181, 55–59.
Authors :  19
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1017/S0033291722003749
SSN : 1469-8978
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Other Terms
Epidemiology;global mental health;incidence;psychosis;schizophrenia;urbanicity
Study Design
Case Study,Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Niger
Publication Country
England