Risks among refugees include schizophrenia

Health[1] Health[1]Mental health [2]Refugees [3]Sweden [4]Forskning.no [5] Refugees in Sweden run three times more risk of developing schizophrenia than persons born in Sweden. They can experience armed drones in the sky, bloody battles, frequent bombings and all sorts of persecution and abuse before encountering the worries and traumas of a dramatic exodus and an uncertain future. A huge study covering 1.3 million persons indicates that the trials and tribulations which many refugees endure can make them more vulnerable to developing schizophrenia. The disease can cause hallucinations and delusions. Swedish and British researchers have investigated the number of persons in Sweden who develop schizophrenia and other so-called non-effective psychoses, including paranoiac psychoses. The odds that refugees will develop such afflictions are 2.9 times greater than for Swedes born in the country. The refugees also run higher risks than other immigrants who come from their same regions.