BMC Psychiatry
Volume 16, Issue 1, 2016

Somatic comorbidity among migrants with posttraumatic stress disorder and depression - a prospective cohort study (Article) (Open Access)

Lolk M.* , Byberg S. , Carlsson J. , Norredam M.
  • a University of Copenhagen, Danish Research Centre for Migration, Ethnicity and Health, Section of Health Services Research, Department of Public Health, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, Copenhagen, Denmark, Competence Centre for Transcultural Psychiatry, Mental Health Centre Ballerup, Mental Health Services of the Capital Region of Denmark, Maglevaenget 2, Ballerup, 2750, Denmark
  • b University of Copenhagen, Danish Research Centre for Migration, Ethnicity and Health, Section of Health Services Research, Department of Public Health, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • c Competence Centre for Transcultural Psychiatry, Mental Health Centre Ballerup, Mental Health Services of the Capital Region of Denmark, Maglevaenget 2, Ballerup, 2750, Denmark
  • d University of Copenhagen, Danish Research Centre for Migration, Ethnicity and Health, Section of Health Services Research, Department of Public Health, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, Copenhagen, Denmark, Department of Immigrant Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, Kettegård Allé 30, Copenhagen, Denmark

Abstract

Background: In a cohort of migrants in Denmark, we compared somatic disease incidence among migrants diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression with migrants without a diagnosed psychiatric disorder. Methods: The study builds on a unique cohort of migrants who obtained residence permit in Denmark from 1993 to 2010 (N = 92,104). The association with somatic disease was explored via register linkage. We used Poisson regression to model incidence rate ratios (IRR) adjusted for age, sex, income and region of origin. The Danish Data Protection Agency granted authorisation for the implementation of the project (No 2012-41-0065). Results: Our results showed that migrants diagnosed with PTSD and depression had significantly higher rates of somatic diseases compared with migrants without diagnosed psychiatric disorders - especially, infectious disease (IRR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.45-2.48; p < 0.01), neurological disease (IRR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.91-2.91; p < 0.01) and pulmonary disease (IRR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.37-2.00; p < 0.01). We further saw differences in the IRRs according to region of origin. Conclusion: Migrants with PTSD and depression had a significantly higher rates of somatic comorbidity compared with migrants without a diagnosed psychiatric disorder. The rates were especially high for infectious, neurological and pulmonary diseases. Our results further suggest difference in the rates of somatic comorbidity according to region of. Preventive and treatment services should pay special attention to improve the overall health of migrants with PTSD and depression. © 2016 The Author(s).

Author Keywords

Post-traumatic stress disorder Comorbidity Depression migrant Refugee

Index Keywords

prospective study depression Prospective Studies human comorbidity middle aged Cohort Studies Denmark neurologic disease statistics and numerical data controlled study health status physical disease Young Adult Humans migrant psychology male disease registry female geographic origin Article major clinical study adult migration posttraumatic stress disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic lung disease cohort analysis infection Transients and Migrants
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85003811126&doi=10.1186%2fs12888-016-1149-2&partnerID=40&md5=1d8be8ac7ff36fa37f57ca5ce0beae51
DOI: 10.1186/s12888-016-1149-2
ISSN: 1471244X
Cited by: 9
Original Language: English