Why are rates of psychosis not elevated among UK-resident South Asians?
Some of the socio-economic and cultural factors offered as reasons for the increased rate of mental illness among African Caribbeans could be expected to have the same impact on UK-resident South Asian populations, whose migration to England coincided with the period of African Caribbean immigration and who are subject to similar discrimination (Bhugra et al, 1997). Although there have been isolated studies reporting an increased incidence of psychosis in Asians living in the UK (King et al, 1994), the majority view is that rates in the Asian population are either the same as those of the indigenous White population or only minimally raised (Cochrane & Bal, 1987; Bhugra et al, 1997). One suggestion has been that exposure to the indigenous British culture with resultant acculturation may result in psychological problems and that an insular lifestyle may protect against such stresses (Westermeyer et al, 1983). Some South Asian groups may, therefore, find protection in their close-knit cu
