Moroccan immigrants with first psychosis in Spain showed lower functioning but less cannabis use
In a Spanish hospital sample, Moroccan immigrants with first-episode psychosis were more likely to be male with lower education and functioning, but reported less cannabis use compared to Spanish-born patients.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Moroccan patients (28.9% of sample) were more likely to be male, had fewer years of education, and lower functionality scores. They reported less cannabis use than native-born patients. After multivariate analysis, only lower functionality (OR 0.93) and lower education (OR 0.75) remained significantly associated with Moroccan origin. Clinical characteristics at entry and discharge did not differ between groups. Moroccan patients showed a better side effect profile from medication.
Key Numbers
83 patients. 28.9% Moroccan origin. Lower functionality: OR 0.93. Lower education: OR 0.75. Less cannabis use in Moroccan group.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional study of 83 inpatients with first-episode psychosis. Functionality, symptomatology, cannabis use patterns, antipsychotic dosing, and side effects compared between Moroccan and Spanish-born patients.
Why This Research Matters
Immigration and ethnicity influence psychosis presentation and outcomes. Understanding these differences helps tailor treatment approaches for diverse populations.
The Bigger Picture
The lower cannabis use among Moroccan patients, despite higher psychosis incidence reported in other European studies, challenges assumptions about the role of cannabis in immigrant psychosis.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Small sample size. Single hospital. Cross-sectional design. Self-reported cannabis use may be affected by cultural stigma. No follow-up data.
Questions This Raises
- ?Is the lower reported cannabis use among Moroccan patients real or a reporting artifact?
- ?Do the functional differences persist with longer follow-up?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Less cannabis use but lower functioning in Moroccan patients
- Evidence Grade:
- Small single-center cross-sectional study with limited statistical power.
- Study Age:
- 2020 study.
- Original Title:
- Comparison between a morocco and a native-born population, in a sample of first episode psychosis.
- Published In:
- Revista de psiquiatria y salud mental, 13(2), 73-79 (2020)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-02395
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does ethnicity affect first-episode psychosis outcomes?
In this study, Moroccan immigrants with first psychosis had lower functioning and education than Spanish-born patients, but similar clinical presentation and reported less cannabis use.
Do Moroccan immigrants have higher psychosis risk?
Previous European studies reported higher psychosis incidence in Moroccan immigrants. This study found similar clinical characteristics at presentation but lower functionality and education.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-02395APA
Arranz, Sara; Camacho, Julia; Andrés, Claudia; Niubó, Inés; Sanchez Gistau, Vanessa. (2020). Comparison between a morocco and a native-born population, in a sample of first episode psychosis.. Revista de psiquiatria y salud mental, 13(2), 73-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rpsm.2019.03.004
MLA
Arranz, Sara, et al. "Comparison between a morocco and a native-born population, in a sample of first episode psychosis.." Revista de psiquiatria y salud mental, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rpsm.2019.03.004
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Comparison between a morocco and a native-born population, i..." RTHC-02395. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/arranz-2020-comparison-between-a-morocco
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.