Aprendizaje y memoria verbal: Comparación entre pacientes con trastorno por consumo de alcohol y trastorno de depresión mayor / Learning and verbal memory: A comparison between patients with alcohol use disorder and major depressive disorder

El daño cerebral relacionado con el consumo de alcohol se asocia a alteraciones de las funciones cognitivas, entre las que destacan memoria y aprendizaje verbal. El objetivo principal es evaluar memoria y aprendizaje verbal en una muestra de 111 pacientes con trastorno por consumo de alcohol (TCA) versus 78 con trastorno de depresión mayor (TDM) y 100 controles sanos. La evaluación incluyó variables sociodemográficas y clínicas, la Escala de Hamilton para la Depresión (HDRS) y el Test de Aprendizaje Verbal de California (CVLT). Se utilizó ANOVA de un factor para comparaciones entre los 3 grupos y ANCOVAS bidireccionales incluyendo diferentes covariables. El ANOVA de un factor muestra que los pacientes con TCA y TDM obtienen puntuaciones similares entre sí e inferiores a las del grupo control (p < 0,001), con excepción del CVLT Guiado (peores puntuaciones en TDM vs TCA, p < 0,001). Tras incluir como covariables la edad, sexo y los años de estudios completados, persisten las diferencias entre los grupos de TCA y TDM frente al grupo control (p ≤ 0,003) en todos los índices con excepción del CVLT Libre Inmediato y del CVLT Guiado (peor rendimiento en TDM vs TCA, p = 0,022 y p = 0,035, respectivamente). En el segundo ANCOVA, tras controlar por gravedad de la depresión, únicamente se detectan diferencias entre los pacientes con TCA y los controles sanos (p ≤ 0,007). Los pacientes con TCA presentan una importante alteración en aprendizaje y memoria verbal al compararlos con pacientes con TDM y con personas sanas. (AU)

Brain damage related to alcohol consumption is associated with impairments in cognitive functions, among which memory and verbal learning stand out. The main objective is to evaluate memory and verbal learning in a sample of 111 patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) versus 78 with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 100 healthy controls. The evaluation included sociodemographic and clinical variables, the Hamilton Depression Scale (HDRS) and the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT). One-way ANOVA was used for comparisons between the 3 groups and two-way ANCOVAS including different covariates. The one-way ANOVA shows that patients with AUD and MDD had scores similar to each other and lower than those of the control group (p <0.001), with the exception of the Cued CVLT (worse scores in MDD vs AUD, p <0.001). After including age, sex and years of completed studies as covariates, the differences between the AUD and MDD groups persisted compared to the control group (p ≤ 0.003) in all indices except for the Immediate Free CVLT and the Cued CVLT (worse performance in MDD vs AUD, p = 0.022 and p = 0.035, respectively). In the second ANCOVA, after controlling for depression severity, differences were only detected between AUD patients and healthy controls (p ≤ 0.007). Patients with AUD present a significant impairment in learning and verbal memory when compared with patients with MDD and with healthy people. (AU)

Suicide deaths and substance use in the Galician provinces between 2006 and 2020.

Background: Suicide is a serious public health problem that affects our entire country, including the Galician provinces. The aim of this research was to study the variation in completed suicide rates, between 2006 and 2020, in the different Galician provinces and their relationship with the consumption of addictive substances. Methods: Completed suicide data from the Spanish Office for National Statistics and the Institute of Legal Medicine of Galicia were analyzed with a Joinpoint regression model to determine time trends. The relationship between the variation in completed suicide rates with sociodemographic variables obtained from the Spanish Office for National Statistics and variables related to the consumption of substances obtained from the survey on alcohol and other drugs in Spain (EDADES) of the Government Delegation for the National Plan on Drugs was also analyzed. Results: The Joinpoint regression model did not reveal any point of significant change in the period studied for any Galician province. The following variables correlated positively with the variation in completed suicide rates in the Galician provinces: masculinity ratio, average age, daily alcohol consumption and daily illegal substance consumption. Conclusion: Applying preventive strategies on the daily consumption of alcohol and illegal substances would help reduce the rates of completed suicide in the Galician provinces.

Cognitive functioning after six months of follow-up in a sample of alcohol use disorder outpatients. / Funcionamiento cognitivo después de seis meses de seguimiento en una muestra de pacientes ambulatorios con trastorno por uso de alcohol.

Until now, no follow-up studies had simultaneously evaluated executive functions, other non-executive functions related cognitive functions, and impulsivity in a large enough sample of moderate to severe alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients. The main objective of the present study was to compare neuropsychological performance and its relation to alcohol use in patients with AUD and healthy controls, and to determine the evolution of cognitive impairment and alcohol use over time. For this purpose, a 6-month follow-up study was designed to compare a sample of 100 outpatients with AUD (DSM-5 criteria) with 100 matched healthy controls. The patient group was recruited from three different health centres in Spain located in Orense, Gijón and Barcelona. The assessment consisted of a systematic battery of cognitive tests to evaluate the following functions: attention, anterograde memory, processing speed, verbal fluency, executive function, and implicit attitude toward alcoholic beverages. We also compared clinical variables associated with alcohol use, such as alcohol craving and impulsivity. After 6 months, anterograde memory, working memory, and resistance to interference improved remarkably in AUD patients, although not enough to match the normal population. With regard to clinical variables, there was a small but significant cognitive improvement related to a reduction in alcohol use and impulsivity. Executive dysfunction and other non-executive functions related cognitive functions impairment can be considered prognostic factors in outpatients with moderate to severe AUD.

Hasta la fecha, ningún estudio de seguimiento había evaluado simultáneamente la función ejecutiva, otras funciones no ejecutivas relacionadas con funciones cognitivas y la impulsividad en una muestra suficientemente grande de pacientes con trastorno por uso de alcohol (TUA) entre moderado y grave. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo principal comparar el desempeño neuropsicológico y su relación con el uso de alcohol en pacientes con TUA y en controles sanos, y determinar la evolución del deterioro cognitivo y el uso de alcohol a largo plazo. Con este fin, se diseñó un estudio de seguimiento de seis meses para comparar una muestra de 100 pacientes ambulatorios con TUA (criterios del DSM-5) emparejados con 100 controles sanos. Los pacientes se reclutaron de tres centros sanitarios diferentes de España, Orense, Gijón y Barcelona. La evaluación consistió en una batería sistematizada de pruebas cognitivas para evaluar las siguientes funciones: atención, memoria anterógrada, velocidad de procesamiento, fluidez verbal, función ejecutiva y actitud implícita hacia bebidas alcohólicas. También se compararon variables clínicas asociadas al consumo de alcohol, como el craving y la impulsividad. Después de seis meses, la memoria anterógrada, memoria de trabajo y resistencia a la interferencia mejoraron notablemente en los pacientes con TUA, aunque no llegaron a igualar la población general. Respecto de las variables clínicas, hubo una pequeña pero significativa mejoría cognitiva relacionada con una reducción del consumo de alcohol y de la impulsividad. La disfunción ejecutiva y otras funciones no ejecutivas relacionadas con el deterioro cognitivo pueden considerarse factores pronósticos en pacientes ambulatorios con TUA entre moderado y grave.

Funcionamiento cognitivo después de seis meses de seguimiento en una muestra de pacientes ambulatorios con trastorno por uso de alcohol / Cognitive functioning after six months of follow-up in a sample of alcohol use disorder outpatients

Hasta la fecha, ningún estudio de seguimiento había evaluado simultáneamente la función ejecutiva, otras funciones no ejecutivas relacionadas con funciones cognitivas y la impulsividad en una muestra suficientemente grande de pacientes con trastorno por uso de alcohol(TUA) entre moderado y grave. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo principal comparar el desempeño neuropsicológico y su relación con el usode alcohol en pacientes con TUA y en controles sanos, y determinarla evolución del deterioro cognitivo y el uso de alcohol a largo plazo.Con este fin, se diseñó un estudio de seguimiento de seis meses paracomparar una muestra de 100 pacientes ambulatorios con TUA (criterios del DSM-5) emparejados con 100 controles sanos. Los pacientesse reclutaron de tres centros sanitarios diferentes de España, Orense,Gijón y Barcelona. La evaluación consistió en una batería sistematizadade pruebas cognitivas para evaluar las siguientes funciones: atención,memoria anterógrada, velocidad de procesamiento, fluidez verbal, función ejecutiva y actitud implícita hacia bebidas alcohólicas. También secompararon variables clínicas asociadas al consumo de alcohol, comoel craving y la impulsividad. Después de seis meses, la memoria anterógrada, memoria de trabajo y resistencia a la interferencia mejoraron notablemente en los pacientes con TUA, aunque no llegaron a igualar lapoblación general. Respecto de las variables clínicas, hubo una pequeña pero significativa mejoría cognitiva relacionada con una reduccióndel consumo de alcohol y de la impulsividad. La disfunción ejecutiva yotras funciones no ejecutivas relacionadas con el deterioro cognitivopueden considerarse factores pronósticos en pacientes ambulatorioscon TUA entre moderado y grave. (AU)

Until now, no follow-up studies had simultaneously evaluated executive functions, other non-executive functions related cognitive functions, and impulsivity in a large enough sample of moderate to severealcohol use disorder (AUD) patients. The main objective of the present study was to compare neuropsychological performance and its relation to alcohol use in patients with AUD and healthy controls, andto determine the evolution of cognitive impairment and alcohol useover time. For this purpose, a 6-month follow-up study was designed tocompare a sample of 100 outpatients with AUD (DSM-5 criteria) with100 matched healthy controls. The patient group was recruited fromthree different health centres in Spain located in Orense, Gijón andBarcelona. The assessment consisted of a systematic battery of cognitive tests to evaluate the following functions: attention, anterogradememory, processing speed, verbal fluency, executive function, andimplicit attitude toward alcoholic beverages. We also compared clinical variables associated with alcohol use, such as alcohol craving andimpulsivity. After 6 months, anterograde memory, working memory,and resistance to interference improved remarkably in AUD patients,although not enough to match the normal population. With regard toclinical variables, there was a small but significant cognitive improvement related to a reduction in alcohol use and impulsivity. Executivedysfunction and other non-executive functions related cognitive functions impairment can be considered prognostic factors in outpatientswith moderate to severe AUD. (AU)

Learning and verbal memory: A comparison between patients with alcohol use disorder and major depressive disorder. / Aprendizaje y memoria verbal: Comparación entre pacientes con trastorno por consumo de alcohol y trastorno de depresión mayor.

Brain damage related to alcohol consumption is associated with impairments in cognitive functions, among which memory and verbal learning stand out. The main objective is to evaluate memory and verbal learning in a sample of 111 patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) versus 78 with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 100 healthy controls. The evaluation included sociodemographic and clinical variables, the Hamilton Depression Scale (HDRS) and the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT). One-way ANOVA was used for comparisons between the 3 groups and two-way ANCOVAS including different covariates. The one-way ANOVA shows that patients with AUD and MDD had scores similar to each other and lower than those of the control group (p <0.001), with the exception of the Cued CVLT (worse scores in MDD vs AUD, p <0.001). After including age, sex and years of completed studies as covariates, the differences between the AUD and MDD groups persisted compared to the control group (p ≤ 0.003) in all indices except for the Immediate Free CVLT and the Cued CVLT (worse performance in MDD vs AUD, p = 0.022 and p = 0.035, respectively). In the second ANCOVA, after controlling for depression severity, differences were only detected between AUD patients and healthy controls (p ≤ 0.007). Patients with AUD present a significant impairment in learning and verbal memory when compared with patients with MDD and with healthy people.

El daño cerebral relacionado con el consumo de alcohol se asocia a alteraciones de las funciones cognitivas, entre las que destacan memoria y aprendizaje verbal. El objetivo principal es evaluar memoria y aprendizaje verbal en una muestra de 111 pacientes con trastorno por consumo de alcohol (TCA) versus 78 con trastorno de depresión mayor (TDM) y 100 controles sanos. La evaluación incluyó variables sociodemográficas y clínicas, la Escala de Hamilton para la Depresión (HDRS) y el Test de Aprendizaje Verbal de California (CVLT). Se utilizó ANOVA de un factor para comparaciones entre los 3 grupos y ANCOVAS bidireccionales incluyendo diferentes covariables. El ANOVA de un factor muestra que los pacientes con TCA y TDM obtienen puntuaciones similares entre sí e inferiores a las del grupo control (p < 0,001), con excepción del CVLT Guiado (peores puntuaciones en TDM vs TCA, p < 0,001). Tras incluir como covariables la edad, sexo y los años de estudios completados, persisten las diferencias entre los grupos de TCA y TDM frente al grupo control (p ≤ 0,003) en todos los índices con excepción del CVLT Libre Inmediato y del CVLT Guiado (peor rendimiento en TDM vs TCA, p = 0,022 y p = 0,035, respectivamente). En el segundo ANCOVA, tras controlar por gravedad de la depresión, únicamente se detectan diferencias entre los pacientes con TCA y los controles sanos (p ≤ 0,007). Los pacientes con TCA presentan una importante alteración en aprendizaje y memoria verbal al compararlos con pacientes con TDM y con personas sanas.

Cognitive functioning in patients with alcohol use disorder who start outpatient treatment. / Funcionamiento cognitivo en pacientes con trastorno por uso de alcohol que inician tratamiento ambulatorio de deshabituación alcohólica.

The main objective of the present study is to analyze the presence of cognitive impairment associated with alcohol consumption in patients with moderate or severe alcohol use disorder seeking outpatient treatment for their dependence. To do this, we compared a sample of 111 patients with active alcohol use disorder who initiated ambulatory treatment with 100 healthy controls. We compared sociodemographic and clinical variables associated with alcohol consumption, such as alcohol craving and impulsivity. A systematized battery of cognitive tests was also used in the comparison, which allowed the evaluation of the following functions: Attention, anterograde memory, processing speed, verbal fluency, executive function and implicit attitude towards alcoholic beverages. Compared with healthy controls, patients with moderate or severe alcohol use disorder performed significantly worse in all tests used, and therefore in all cognitive functions evaluated, but for two tests, the Iowa Gambling Test and the Implicit Association Test. The analysis through a correlation matrix of the patient group indicates that patients who report more impulsivity and more chronic alcohol abuse and with more addiction are those who suffer greater deterioration in their cognitive function. Cognitive damage associated with alcohol consumption was distributed heterogeneously among patients. The present study confirms the presence of cognitive deterioration associated with alcohol consumption in patients seeking outpatient treatment.

El objetivo principal del presente estudio es analizar la presencia del deterioro cognitivo asociado al consumo de alcohol en los pacientes con trastorno por uso de alcohol moderado o grave que demandan tratamiento de deshabituación alcohólica ambulatorio. Para ello, se comparó una muestra de 111 pacientes con trastorno por uso de alcohol activo que iniciaban tratamiento ambulatorio versus 100 controles sanos. Se compararon variables sociodemográficas y clínicas asociadas al consumo de alcohol, como el craving de alcohol y la impulsividad. También se empleó en la comparación una batería sistematizada de pruebas cognitivas que permitía valorar las siguientes funciones: atención, memoria anterógrada, velocidad de procesamiento, fluidez verbal, función ejecutiva y actitud implícita ante las bebidas alcohólicas. En comparación con los controles sanos, los pacientes con trastorno por uso de alcohol moderado o grave presentaban un rendimiento significativamente inferior en todas las pruebas utilizadas, y por ello en todas las funciones cognitivas evaluadas, con la excepción de dos pruebas, el Iowa Gambling Test y el Implicit Association Test. El análisis a través de una matriz de correlaciones del grupo de pacientes indica que los pacientes que refieren más impulsividad y un consumo abusivo de alcohol más cronificado y con más adicción son los que presentan un mayor deterioro en su función cognitiva. El daño cognitivo asociado al consumo de alcohol se distribuyó de forma heterogénea entre los pacientes. El presente estudio confirma la presencia del deterioro cognitivo asociado al consumo de alcohol en los pacientes que demandan tratamiento ambulatorio.

Funcionamiento cognitivo en pacientes con trastorno por uso de alcohol que inician tratamiento ambulatorio de deshabituación alcohólica / Cognitive functioning in patients with alcohol use disorder who start outpatient treatment

El objetivo principal del presente estudio es analizar la presencia del deterioro cognitivo asociado al consumo de alcohol en los pacientes con trastorno por uso de alcohol moderado o grave que demandan tratamiento de deshabituación alcohólica ambulatorio. Para ello, se comparó una muestra de 111 pacientes con trastorno por uso de alcohol activo que iniciaban tratamiento ambulatorio versus 100 controles sanos. Se compararon variables sociodemográficas y clínicas asociadas al consumo de alcohol, como el craving de alcohol y la impulsividad. También se empleó en la comparación una batería sistematizada de pruebas cognitivas que permitía valorar las siguientes funciones: atención, memoria anterógrada, velocidad de procesamiento, fluidez verbal, función ejecutiva y actitud implícita ante las bebidas alcohólicas. En comparación con los controles sanos, los pacientes con trastorno por uso de alcohol moderado o grave presentaban un rendimiento significativamente inferior en todas las pruebas utilizadas, y por ello en todas las funciones cognitivas evaluadas, con la excepción de dos pruebas, el Iowa Gambling Test y el Implicit Association Test. El análisis a través de una matriz de correlaciones del grupo de pacientes indica que los pacientes que refieren más impulsividad y un consumo abusivo de alcohol más cronificado y con más adicción son los que presentan un mayor deterioro en su función cognitiva. El daño cognitivo asociado al consumo de alcohol se distribuyó de forma heterogénea entre los pacientes. El presente estudio confirma la presencia del deterioro cognitivo asociado al consumo de alcohol en los pacientes que demandan tratamiento ambulatorio

The main objective of the present study is to analyze the presence of cognitive impairment associated with alcohol consumption in patients with moderate or severe alcohol use disorder seeking outpatient treatment for their dependence. To do this, we compared a sample of 111 patients with active alcohol use disorder who initiated ambulatory treatment with 100 healthy controls. We compared sociodemographic and clinical variables associated with alcohol consumption, such as alcohol craving and impulsivity. A systematized battery of cognitive tests was also used in the comparison, which allowed the evaluation of the following functions: Attention, anterograde memory, processing speed, verbal fluency, executive function and implicit attitude towards alcoholic beverages. Compared with healthy controls, patients with moderate or severe alcohol use disorder performed significantly worse in all tests used, and therefore in all cognitive functions evaluated, but for two tests, the Iowa Gambling Test and the Implicit Association Test. The analysis through a correlation matrix of the patient group indicates that patients who report more impulsivity and more chronic alcohol abuse and with more addiction are those who suffer greater deterioration in their cognitive function. Cognitive damage associated with alcohol consumption was distributed heterogeneously among patients. The present study confirms the presence of cognitive deterioration associated with alcohol consumption in patients seeking outpatient treatment

Factores predictores de riesgo de repetición de intento de suicidio en una muestra de pacientes ambulatorios / Relevant risk factors of repeated suicidal attempts in a sample of outpatients

INTRODUCCIÓN: El suicidio representa un problema destacado en la actualidad; una línea de prevención e intervención es la detección de los factores de riesgo. En este estudio se pretende identificar los predictores de suicidio en pacientes con repetición de intento de suicidio (RIS) en seguimiento en un programa de intervención intensiva. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: La muestra la forman los pacientes incluidos en el programa de intervención intensiva por intento de suicidio. Se registran las variables sociodemográficas y clínicas, los abandonos, la RIS, las faltas a consulta y los resultados obtenidos en las escalas de depresión y desesperanza de Beck a lo largo de los 12 meses de seguimiento en el programa (inicial, 6 meses y 12 meses). Análisis estadístico: La asociación entre RIS y variables cualitativas de estudio se realizó empleando Chi-Cuadrado y para las cuantitativas T-Student. Los análisis se hicieron utilizando el software SPSS 19.0. El estudio ha sido aprobado por el Comité Autonómico de Ética de la Investigación de Galicia. RESULTADOS: De la muestra de 319 pacientes, 29 (9%) realizan una RIS, 22 (76%) durante los primeros 6 meses del programa. De los pacientes con RIS, 7 (24%) tienen historia de intento previo durante un periodo inferior a 180 días al intento índice (p = 0,033). La intoxicación medicamentosa fue el método más empleado pues fue utilizada en el intento índice por 240 pacientes (76%). Veintisiete (93%) mantienen el método en la RIS (p < 0,001). CONCLUSIONES: La sobreingesta de fármacos como método de intento y reintento, y el tiempo transcurrido desde el intento previo son los factores de riesgo destacados asociados a la RIS, de ahí la importancia de identificar a los pacientes con historia de intento de suicidio para llevar a cabo una intervención más intensiva y un ajuste adecuado del tratamiento sobre todo en los primeros 180 días

INTRODUCTION: Suicide is, at present, an important global public health problem; detection of risk factors can be used as a method for prevention and intervention. This study aims to identify predictors of suicide in patients with suicidal attempt retry (SAR), who are followed-up an in the Intensive Intervention Program (PII). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample includes patients followed up at the Intensive Intervention Program because of a previous suicidal attempt. The following variables were collected during the 12 months follow-up (baseline, 6 months and 12 months): Repeated attempts, socio-demographic and clinical variables, lack of adherence and the Beck Depression Inventory and Hopelessness Scale. Statistic analysis: The association between SAR and qualitative study variables was performed using Chi-Square and for the quantitative, T-Student was used. The analysis was carried out with the software SPSS 19.0. The study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Galicia. RESULTS: Of the 319 patients, 29 (9%) of them committed a new suicidal attempt, 22 (76%) of these new attempts happened during the first 6 month of the Program. Of those who repeat the attempt, 7 (24%) have a history of a previous attempt that precede the basal attempt (P=.033) in less than 180 days. Medication overdose is the most used method, as it was used by 240 of the patients (76%). 27 (93%) kept drug overdose as their retry method, also reaching significance(P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Overdose as a method of attempt and re-attempt, and the time elapsed from the previous attempt, are the highlighted risk factors associated with repeated suicidal attempts. For this reason, it is crucial to identify patients with a new suicide attempt so that a more intense intervention and drug treatment control is delivered during the first 180 days

Relevant risk factors of repeated suicidal attempts in a sample of outpatients. / Factores predictores de riesgo de repetición de intento de suicidio en una muestra de pacientes ambulatorios.

INTRODUCTION: Suicide is, at present, an important global public health problem; detection of risk factors can be used as a method for prevention and intervention. This study aims to identify predictors of suicide in patients with suicidal attempt retry (SAR), who are followed-up an in the Intensive Intervention Program (PII). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample includes patients followed up at the Intensive Intervention Program because of a previous suicidal attempt. The following variables were collected during the 12 months follow-up (baseline, 6 months and 12 months): Repeated attempts, socio-demographic and clinical variables, lack of adherence and the Beck Depression Inventory and Hopelessness Scale. STATISTIC ANALYSIS: The association between SAR and qualitative study variables was performed using Chi-Square and for the quantitative, T-Student was used. The analysis was carried out with the software SPSS 19.0. The study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Galicia. RESULTS: Of the 319 patients, 29 (9%) of them committed a new suicidal attempt, 22 (76%) of these new attempts happened during the first 6 month of the Program. Of those who repeat the attempt, 7 (24%) have a history of a previous attempt that precede the basal attempt (P=.033) in less than 180 days. Medication overdose is the most used method, as it was used by 240 of the patients (76%). 27 (93%) kept drug overdose as their retry method, also reaching significance(P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Overdose as a method of attempt and re-attempt, and the time elapsed from the previous attempt, are the highlighted risk factors associated with repeated suicidal attempts. For this reason, it is crucial to identify patients with a new suicide attempt so that a more intense intervention and drug treatment control is delivered during the first 180 days.

Clinical implications of cognitive impairment and alcohol dependence. / Deterioro cognitivo y dependencia alcohólica, implicaciones clínicas.

Editorial of vol. 31-1.

Editorial del vol 31-1.

Deterioro cognitivo y dependencia alcohólica, implicaciones clínicas / Clinical implications of cognitive impairment and alcohol dependence

No disponible

Ethnic Minority Status, Age-at-Immigration and Psychosis Risk in Rural Environments: Evidence From the SEPEA Study.

Objective: Several ethnic minority groups experience elevated rates of first-episode psychosis (FEP), but most studies have been conducted in urban settings. We investigated whether incidence varied by ethnicity, generation status, and age-at-immigration in a diverse, mixed rural, and urban setting. Method: We identified 687 people, 16-35 years, with an ICD-10 diagnosis of FEP, presenting to Early Intervention Psychosis services in the East of England over 2 million person-years. We used multilevel Poisson regression to examine incidence variation by ethnicity, rural-urban setting, generation status, and age-at-immigration, adjusting for several confounders including age, sex, socioeconomic status, population density, and deprivation. Results: People of black African (incidence rate ratio: 4.06; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.63-6.25), black Caribbean (4.63; 95% CI: 2.38-8.98) and Pakistani (2.31; 95% CI: 1.35-3.94) origins were at greatest FEP risk relative to the white British population, after multivariable adjustment. Non-British white migrants were not at increased FEP risk (1.00; 95% CI: 0.77-1.32). These patterns were independently present in rural and urban settings. For first-generation migrants, migration during childhood conferred greatest risk of psychotic disorders (2.20; 95% CI: 1.33-3.62). Conclusions: Elevated psychosis risk in several visible minority groups could not be explained by differences in postmigratory socioeconomic disadvantage. These patterns were observed across rural and urban areas of our catchment, suggesting that elevated psychosis risk for some ethnic minority groups is not a result of selection processes influencing rural-urban living. Timing of exposure to migration during childhood, an important social and neurodevelopmental window, may also elevate risk.

The Epidemiology of First-Episode Psychosis in Early Intervention in Psychosis Services: Findings From the Social Epidemiology of Psychoses in East Anglia [SEPEA] Study.

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have characterized the epidemiology of first-episode psychoses in rural or urban settings since the introduction of early intervention psychosis services. To address this, the authors conducted a naturalistic cohort study in England, where such services are well established. METHOD: All new first-episode psychosis cases, 16-35 years old, presenting to early intervention psychosis services in the East of England were identified during 2 million person-years follow-up. Presence of ICD-10 F10-33 psychotic disorder was confirmed using OPCRIT [operational criteria for psychotic illness]. Incidence rate ratios were estimated following multivariable Poisson regression, adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, neighborhood-level deprivation, and population density. RESULTS: Of 1,005 referrals, 687 participants (68.4%) fulfilled epidemiological and diagnostic criteria for first-episode psychosis (34.0 new cases per 100,000 person-years; 95% CI=31.5-36.6). Median age at referral was similar for men (22.5 years; interquartile range: 19.5-26.7) and women (23.4 years; interquartile range: 19.5-29.1); incidence rates were highest for men and women before 20 years of age. Rates increased for ethnic minority groups (incidence rate ratio: 1.4; 95% CI=1.1-1.6), as well as with lower socioeconomic status (incidence rate ratio: 1.3; 95% CI=1.2-1.4) and in more urban (incidence rate ratio: 1.4;95%CI=1.0-1.8) and deprived (incidence rate ratio: 2.1; 95% CI=1.3-3.3) neighborhoods, after adjustment for confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Pronounced variation in psychosis incidence, peaking before 20 years old, exists in populations served by early intervention psychosis services. Excess rates were restricted to urban and deprived communities, suggesting that a threshold of socioenvironmental adversity may be necessary to increase incidence. This robust epidemiology can inform service development in various settings about likely population-level need.