Schizophrenia Daily News Blog

African Americans Have 200% Higher Risk of Schizophrenia than Caucasian Americans

A recent study suggests that African Americans have a 3 times higher (or 200% greater) likelihood of developing schizophrenia during their lives.

The International Journal of Epidemiology states in the study published in a recent issue, that: "The data indicate substantially elevated rates of schizophrenia among African Americans in comparison with whites in this birth cohort".

This variance has also been noted in the UK (see related story). The cause of this large variance has, in the research we've seen, been most commonly attributed to a greater frequency of exposure of African Americans to what are believed to be the key environmental contributors to schizophrenia - prepregnancy factors, pregnancy stress, other prenatal factors, social stress, family stress or other environmental factors.

Source: International Journal of Epidemiology, Race and risk of schizophrenia in a US birth cohort: another example of health disparity?

Related Reading:

Social Factors in the Development of Schizophrenia: A Review of Recent Findings

Mental Health Risks Vary Within the US Black Population

Broken Homes Linked to Increased Risk of Psychosis, Schizophrenia

Social Stress Has Link to Psychotic Disorders

Special Thanks to Cu Kettle for pointing this story out.