Nordic Journal of Psychiatry
2019

Patterns of psychiatric hospitalizations among migrant workers and asylum-seekers in Israel: a single hospital archive study, 2005–2011 (Article)

Lurie I.* , Barnea Y. , Caspi Y. , Olmer L. , Baruch Y.
  • a Shalvata Mental Health Center, Hod Hasharon, Israel, Department of Psychiatry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
  • b Department of Psychiatry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel, Abarbanel Mental Health Center, Bat-Yam, Israel
  • c Veterans’ Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, Rambam Medical Health Care Center, Haifa, Israel
  • d Gertner Institute for Health Policy and Epidemiology, Tel HaShomer, Israel
  • e Health Administration Department, Israel Academic College, Ramat Gan, Israel

Abstract

Aim: Migrants have increased risk for psychiatric hospitalizations. Over the last decades Israel has become a destination for migration of migrant workers and asylum-seekers. Methods: The current retrospective study retrieved socio-demographic, clinical and migration-related chart data for 117 migrants admitted to a major Israeli psychiatric hospital between 2005–2011, to delineate characteristics and risk-factors for psychiatric hospitalizations. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to predict re-hospitalization. Results: Of the study sample, 61% were single men, 20% had been exposed to trauma, 15% had prior psychiatric hospitalizations and 24% had attempted suicide. Approximately, 76% were involuntarily hospitalized and diagnosed with psychosis. None were diagnosed with PTSD. Approximately, 20% were re-hospitalized. Factors significantly associated with re-hospitalization were male gender (OR = 15.2, 95%, CI 1.8–126.9, p = 0.012), prior psychiatric hospitalization (OR = 15.4, 95% CI 2.1–111.9, p < 0.01), being single (OR = 5.96, 95% CI1.14–31.07, p = 0.03) and traumatic exposure (OR = 4.75, 95% CI: 1.17–19.36, p= 0.03). Shorter duration in Israel, unemployment, asylum-seekers, no temporary-visa and use of restraints were more prevalent among those re-hospitalized. Conclusion: Identification of migrants at risk and trauma-informed, culturally relevant services can reduce hospitalizations. © 2019, © 2019 The Nordic Psychiatric Association.

Author Keywords

Migration Psychiatric hospitalization Migrant workers Asylum-seekers trauma

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85074369221&doi=10.1080%2f08039488.2019.1677770&partnerID=40&md5=81ef568fd43bbf0844226d5e5495e809
DOI: 10.1080/08039488.2019.1677770
ISSN: 08039488
Original Language: English