Acute psychotic reactions in Caribbean-born patients.
R Littlewood, M Lipsedge
Psychological Medicine May 1, 1981 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291700052120 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Prospective study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 24 |
| Population | West Indian and West African patients with religious delusions |
| Measures | PSE syndromes |
| Keywords | Humans Acute disease Psychotic disorders Cultural characteristics Socioeconomic factors Religion Adult Africa, western West indies London Female Ethnicity |
| Key points | Patients without Schneider's first-rank symptoms (principally West Indians) differed from those with them: early religious commitment, lifelong religious experiences, acute admission precipitated by social events, a greater chance of a changed diagnosis, fewer than 10 PSE syndromes, no 'twentieth-century' delusions, and malevolent witchcraft as the sole explanation. The authors suggest this group demonstrates an acute psychotic reaction of a type previously described in Africa and the Caribbean. |
Abstract
A prospective study of patients with religious delusions identified 24 West Indian and West African patients. Those who had none of Schneider's first-rank symptoms of schizophrenia (principally West Indians) differed from those who did by virtue of early religious commitment, life-long religious experiences, an acute admission precipitated by social events, a greater chance of having their diagnosis changed, less than 10 different PSE syndromes, the absence of 'twentieth-century' delusions, and the presentation of malevolent witchcraft as the sole explanation of the episode. It is suggested that this group can usefully be considered as demonstrating an acute psychotic reaction of the type previously described in Africa and the Caribbean.