K K Anderson1,2,3, J Edwards1,3. 1. Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada. 2. Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada. 3. Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the existing evidence on the association between age at migration and the risk of psychotic disorders. METHODS: Observational studies were eligible for inclusion if they presented data on the association between age at migration and the risk of psychotic disorders among first-generation migrant groups. We used two random effects meta-analyses to pool effect estimates for each stratum of age at migration relative to (i) a native-born reference category and (ii) the youngest age stratum (0 to 2 years). RESULTS: Ten studies met inclusion criteria, and five were included in the meta-analysis. The risk of psychotic disorder among people who migrate prior to age 18 is nearly twice as high as the native-born population, with no evidence of effect modification by age strata. People who migrate during early adulthood (19 to 29 years) have a similar risk of psychotic disorder as the native-born population (IRR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.60, 1.44) and a lower risk relative to those who migrate during infancy (0 to 2 years) (IRR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.33, 1.04). CONCLUSIONS: Migrant status is one of few well-established risk factors for psychotic disorder, yet we have limited understanding of the underlying etiology. The findings of this review advance our understanding of this association and identify high-risk groups to target for intervention.
OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the existing evidence on the association between age at migration and the risk of psychotic disorders. METHODS: Observational studies were eligible for inclusion if they presented data on the association between age at migration and the risk of psychotic disorders among first-generation migrant groups. We used two random effects meta-analyses to pool effect estimates for each stratum of age at migration relative to (i) a native-born reference category and (ii) the youngest age stratum (0 to 2 years). RESULTS: Ten studies met inclusion criteria, and five were included in the meta-analysis. The risk of psychotic disorder among people who migrate prior to age 18 is nearly twice as high as the native-born population, with no evidence of effect modification by age strata. People who migrate during early adulthood (19 to 29 years) have a similar risk of psychotic disorder as the native-born population (IRR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.60, 1.44) and a lower risk relative to those who migrate during infancy (0 to 2 years) (IRR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.33, 1.04). CONCLUSIONS: Migrant status is one of few well-established risk factors for psychotic disorder, yet we have limited understanding of the underlying etiology. The findings of this review advance our understanding of this association and identify high-risk groups to target for intervention.
Authors: Brian O'Donoghue; Hellen Geros; Holly Sizer; Jean Addington; G Paul Amminger; Carrie E Beaden; Kristin S Cadenhead; Tyrone D Cannon; Barbara A Cornblatt; Gregor Emanuel Berger; Eric Y H Chen; Lieuwe de Haan; Jessica A Hartmann; Ian B Hickie; Helga K Ising; Suzie Lavoie; Ashleigh Lin; Connie Markulev; Daniel H Mathalon; Thomas H McGlashan; Nathan G Mifsud; Nilufar Mossaheb; Dorien H Nieman; Merete Nordentoft; Diana O Perkins; Anita Riecher-Rössler; Miriam R Schäfer; Monika Schlögelhofer; Larry J Seidman; Stephan Smesny; Andrew Thompson; Ming T Tsuang; Mark van der Gaag; Swapna Verma; Elaine F Walker; Stephen J Wood; Scott W Woods; Hok Pan Yuen; Alison Ruth Yung; Patrick D McGorry; Barnaby Nelson Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2021-01-05 Impact factor: 4.328