IJE Advance Access originally published online on July 23, 2007
International Journal of Epidemiology 2007 36(4):703-707; doi:10.1093/ije/dym147
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Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association © The Author 2007; all rights reserved.
Editorial |
Researching protective and promotive factors in mental health
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, UK
* Corresponding author. Professor of International Mental Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK. E-mail: vikram.patel@lshtm.ac.uk
Accepted 18 June 2007
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
Introduction
This issue of the Journal features two cohort studies which show a marked excess of schizophrenia in African Americans,1 and a dose–response relationship between perceived discrimination and excess rates of schizophrenia in different minority groups in The Netherlands.2 These studies mirror one another, and numerous other studies carried out in developed countries, in inferring that minority groups are at elevated risk for schizophrenia, and that social factors—particularly discrimination-related disadvantages—are partially responsible.
That these elevated rates have been the subject of scientific investigations is fully justified—if the higher rate of schizophrenia in minority groups were ignored, we would feel rightly outraged. Likewise, we believe ignoring the mental health needs of other disadvantaged groups—for example, women or conflict-affected people—is both scientifically and morally indefensible. It is scientifically indefensible because these groups are particularly vulnerable to suffering from poor mental health. It is morally indefensible because in the context of other important disadvantages
Investigating protective factors at the group level
Investigating protective factors at the individual level
Realizing the public health benefit
From protective to promotive factors
Conclusion
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