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Higher rates of schizophrenia among African-Caribbeans in the UK may be caused partly by unemployment and earlier separation from both parents, according to research.

A study carried out by the Centre for Caribbean Medicine, King's College London, indicates that social and environmental factors have an important part to play.

Lead author of the research Rosemarie Mallett said the study found that African-Caribbeans in the UK who had been separated from one or both parents for four years or more during childhood were more likely to develop schizophrenia.

"This research highlights the significance of social disadvantage as a cause of severe mental illness," she added.