Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
Volume 206, Issue 1, 2018, Pages 27-32

Determinants of suicidality and of treatment modalities in a community psychiatry sample of asylum seekers (Article)

Premand N.* , Baeriswyl-Cottin R. , Gex-Fabry M. , Hiller N. , Framorando D. , Eytan A. , Giannakopoulos P. , Bartolomei J.
  • a Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals, 91 rue de Lyon, Genve, CH-1203, Switzerland
  • b Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals, 91 rue de Lyon, Genve, CH-1203, Switzerland
  • c Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals, 91 rue de Lyon, Genve, CH-1203, Switzerland
  • d Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals, 91 rue de Lyon, Genve, CH-1203, Switzerland
  • e Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals, 91 rue de Lyon, Genve, CH-1203, Switzerland
  • f Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals, 91 rue de Lyon, Genve, CH-1203, Switzerland
  • g Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals, 91 rue de Lyon, Genve, CH-1203, Switzerland
  • h Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals, 91 rue de Lyon, Genve, CH-1203, Switzerland

Abstract

A high prevalence of mental illness has been reported in asylum seekers. The present cross-sectional study examined suicidal thoughts, treatment modalities (outpatient crisis intervention, inpatient care), and their determinants in asylum seekers (n = 119) and permanent residents (n = 120) attending the same outpatient clinic in Geneva, Switzerland. The most frequent diagnoses were depressive disorders (64.7%) and posttraumatic stress disorder (34.5%) in asylum seekers and psychotic (55.0%) and depressive disorders (33.3%) in permanent residents. The frequency of suicidal thoughts was similar in both groups (>30%). Asylum seekers benefited from outpatient crisis intervention more frequently than residents did (26.9% vs. 5.8%), whereas inpatient care was less frequent (25.2% vs. 44.2%). In asylum seekers, acute suicidal thoughts were associated with increased frequency of outpatient crisis interventions, and, suicidal thoughts, psychosis, or personality disorders were associated with higher rates of hospitalization. Documenting clinical characteristics and service utilization of asylum seekers is a prerequisite to organizing targeted interventions. Copyright © 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

inpatient care outpatient crisis intervention suicidal thoughts Switzerland Asylum seeker

Index Keywords

personality disorder depression hospital patient hospitalization refugee anxiety disorder human risk assessment Refugees middle aged psychosis statistics and numerical data controlled study outpatient care psychiatric diagnosis Depressive Disorder drug dependence bipolar disorder Mental Disorders mental disease asylum seeker Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans psychology male female Psychotic Disorders risk factor crisis intervention tranquilizer social psychiatry adjustment disorder Personality Disorders outpatient department Article major clinical study adult health care access posttraumatic stress disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic neuroleptic agent disease association Switzerland suicidal ideation
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85010874836&doi=10.1097%2fNMD.0000000000000639&partnerID=40&md5=efd2f2a7bfda0cf131fb3f85db524f96
DOI: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000639
ISSN: 00223018
Original Language: English