A comparative analysis of age of onset and associated factors in non-refugee immigrants versus native-born individuals with psychotic disorders

Abstract

Background: The age of onset in psychosis (AOP) has been of particular interest in research due to its association with the prognosis and expression of psychotic disorders. There is a lack of research concerning the influence of environmental factors such as stressful life events or exposure to traumatic events on AOP, especially among non-refugee immigrants.Objective: This study investigates the AOP among non-refugee immigrants as compared to native-born individuals and explores the associations of AOP with trauma burden. A total of 198 participants (99 non-refugee immigrants and 99 native-born individuals) diagnosed with psychotic disorders were assessed for sociodemographic, clinical, and migration data, along with trauma exposure, using validated scales.Methods: A multiple linear regression model was used to assess potential associations between AOP and these variables.Results: Non-refugee immigrants experience psychosis at an earlier age (25.26 vs. 28.22 years) and exhibit unique associations between AOP and factors such as age at first migration, cumulative trauma distress, stressful events, and comorbid psychiatric diagnosis. Conversely, native-born individuals show associations with sex, age, job status, and comorbid psychiatric diagnoses.Conclusions: These findings emphasise the significance of considering migration-related factors and trauma in understanding AOP among non-refugee immigrants, providing valuable insights for tailored preventive interventions in this population.

Keywords

• Psychosis
• immigration
• trauma, psychological
• PTSD
• mental health of ethnic groups
• Trauma