Ethnicity and long-term course and outcome of psychotic disorders in a UK sample: the AESOP-10 study

Background The incidence of psychotic disorders is elevated in some minority ethnic populations. However, we know little about the outcome of psychoses in these populations. Aim To investigate patterns and determinants of long-term course and outcome of psychoses by ethnic group following a first episode. Method ÆSOP-10 is a ten-year follow-up of an ethnically diverse cohort of 532 individuals with first-episode psychosis identified in the UK. Information was collected, at baseline, on clinical presentation and neurodevelopmental and social factors and, at follow-up, on course and outcome. Results There was evidence that, compared with white British, black Caribbean patients experienced worse clinical, social, and service use outcomes, and black African patients experienced worse social and service use outcomes. There was evidence that baseline social disadvantage contributed to these disparities. Conclusion These findings suggest ethnic disparities in the incidence of psychoses extend, for some groups, to worse outcomes in multiple domains