Description du projet
Comprendre la psychose dans les populations minoritaires
Les taux d’incidence des troubles psychotiques sont exceptionnellement élevés au sein des groupes de migrants et des minorités ethniques de tous les pays. L’absence d’initiatives de santé publique qui abordent ce problème est liée à un manque de compréhension du phénomène. Le projet REACH, financé par le CER, se propose d’étudier les origines du développement de la psychose auprès de ces populations. S’appuyant sur l’étude accélérée d’une cohorte d’adolescents du sud de Londres, REACH entend fournir des informations et proposer des stratégies de prévention efficaces. Plus précisément, il s’agira de recruter, d’évaluer et de suivre de près trois cohortes scolaires d’adolescents âgés de 11 à 14 ans, soit 2 760 personnes au total. Grâce aux données recueillies sur les expériences psychotiques, les facteurs de risque et de protection socio-environnementaux, ainsi que les mécanismes psychologiques et biologiques, le projet ambitionne de contribuer à une meilleure compréhension des taux élevés de psychose.
Objectif
The overarching aim of REACH is to examine groundbreaking questions on the developmental origins of psychosis in migrant and minority ethnic populations using a highly innovative accelerated cohort study of adolescents, to be conducted in south London (UK). It has been known for over 50 years that the incidence of psychotic disorders is high in many migrant and minority ethnic groups across many countries. Our seminal study (AESOP) on this, for example, found that incidence rates were 3 to 6 times higher in black Caribbean and black African populations in the UK than in the white British. There have, however, been no public health initiatives specifically designed to tackle this problem – this is a public health tragedy. In part this inaction is due to a limited understanding of why rates of disorder are elevated. This points to an urgent need for research that can shed light on why the incidence of psychosis is so high in some populations and, more importantly, provide information on how and when to intervene to reduce risk. In seeking to do this, REACH will break new ground. To achieve these aims, REACH will use highly innovative methods to recruit, assess and follow at one and two years 3 overlapping school-based cohorts of adolescents aged 11-12, 12-13 and 13-14 years (total sample, 2,760; 552 of whom will be assessed more intensively). Collection of data on a) psychotic and other experiences of emotional distress, b) socio-environmental risk and, uniquely, protective factors, and c) psychological and biological (HPA axis related) mechanisms, will enable REACH to examine cutting edge questions about the developmental origins of psychosis. REACH is an ambitious study that, critically, seeks to explain (not just document) ethnic differences and in doing so provide concrete proposals for prevention strategies and interventions to reduce risk of psychosis and other poor mental health outcomes during adolescence, a key developmental stage, in diverse ethnic groups.
Champ scientifique
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
ERC-COG - Consolidator GrantInstitution d’accueil
WC2R 2LS London
Royaume-Uni