Psychopathology and resident status – Comparing asylum seekers ,

Purpose This study aimed to describe, compare, and predict mental health outcomes of different migrant groups and native residents in Switzerland. Subjects and methods Asylum seekers (n = 65); refugees holding permanent protection visas (n = 34); illegal migrants (n = 21); labor migrants (n = 26); and residents (n = 56) completed an assessment by questionnaire. Main outcome variables were symptoms of posttraumatic stress, anxiety and depression. It was tested whether resident status predicted psychopathology over and above the influence of control variables including social desirability, traumatic event types and post-migration resources. Results Asylum seekers (54.0%) and refugees (41.4%) fulfilled criteria of PTSD most frequently. Clinically relevant symptoms of anxiety and depression were most frequently reported by asylum seekers (84.6% and 63.1%, resp.) and illegal migrants (both 47.6%). Resident status contributed to psychopathology over and above the influence of control variables. Conclusions Overall, asylum seekers, refugees, and illegal migrants showed high psychiatric morbidity. Differences in resident status appear to be specifically associated with mental health outcomes. This association persists even when controlling for social desirability, post-migration resources and traumatic events. This emphasizes the importance of current socio-political living conditions for mental health, even with respect to the psychopathological sequelae of past traumatic experiences. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.02.003 Posted at the Zurich Open Repository and Archive, University of Zurich ZORA URL: https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-93347 Accepted Version Originally published at: Heeren, Martina; Wittmann, Lutz; Ehlert, Ulrike; Schnyder, Ulrich; Maier, Thomas; Müller, Julia (2014). Psychopathology and resident status – Comparing asylum seekers, refugees, illegal migrants, labor migrants, and residents. Comprehensive psychiatry, 55(4):818-825. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.02.003 Psychopathology and resident status – Comparing asylum seekers, refugees, illegal migrants, labor migrants, and residents Martina Heeren, Lutz Wittmann, Ulrike Ehlert, Ulrich Schnyder, Thomas Maier, Julia Müller PII: S0010-440X(14)00023-6 DOI: doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.02.003 Reference: YCOMP 51241 To appear in: Comprehensive Psychiatry Received date: 15 July 2013 Revised date: 30 January 2014 Accepted date: 6 February 2014 Please cite this article as: Heeren Martina, Wittmann Lutz, Ehlert Ulrike, Schnyder Ulrich, Maier Thomas, Müller Julia, Psychopathology and resident status – Comparing asylum seekers, refugees, illegal migrants, labor migrants, and residents, Comprehensive Psychiatry (2014), doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.02.003 This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. AC C EP TE D M AN U SC R IP T ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 1 Psychopathology and resident status – Comparing asylum seekers, refugees, illegal migrants, labor migrants, and residents Martina Heeren 1§ , Lutz Wittmann 2 , Ulrike Ehlert 3 , Ulrich Schnyder 1 , Thomas Maier 4 , Julia Müller 1 1 Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Zurich, Culmannstrasse 8, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland, +41 44 255 52 80 2 International Psychoanalytic University Berlin, Stromstrasse 2a, 10555 Berlin, +49 30 300 117-810 3 Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Binzmuehlestrasse 14/26, 8050 Zurich, Switzerland, +41 44 635 73 50 4 Psychiatric Services of the Canton St. Gallen-North, Wil, Switzerland, +41 71 913 11 11 § Corresponding author: Name: Martina Heeren Tel. number/ Email: +41 76 501 75 85, [email protected] Postal address: Bombachhalde 16, 8049 Zurich, Switzerland Running title: Psychopathology and resident status AC C EP TE D M AN U SC R IP T ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT