Journal of Traumatic Stress
Volume 25, Issue 6, 2012, Pages 705-712

Onset of posttraumatic stress disorder and major depression among refugees and voluntary migrants to the United States (Article)

Rasmussen A.* , Crager M. , Baser R.E. , Chu T. , Gany F.
  • a Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx NY, United States
  • b Stanford School of Law, Palo Alto, CA, United States
  • c Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
  • d Brooklyn College, City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, United States
  • e Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States

Abstract

Although refugees are generally thought to be at increased risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive episode (MDE), few studies have compared onset of PTSD and MDE between refugees and voluntary migrants. Given differences in migration histories, onset should differ pre- and postmigration. The National Latino and Asian American Survey (NLAAS) is a national representative, complex dataset measuring psychiatric morbidity, mental health service use, and migration history among Latino and Asian immigrants to the United States. Of the 3,260 foreign-born participants, 660 were refugees (a weighted proportion of 9.52%). Refugees were more likely to report a history of war-related trauma, but reports of other traumatic events were similar. Premigration onset of PTSD was statistically higher for refugees than voluntary migrants, odds ratio (OR) = 4.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) [2.01, 11.76], where postmigration onset for PTSD was not, OR = 0.61, 95% CI [0.29, 1.28]; a similar pattern was found for MDE, OR = 1.98, 95% CI [1.11, 3.51]; and OR = 1.02, 95% CI [0.65, 1.62], respectively. Although refugees arrive in host countries with more pressing psychiatric needs, onset is comparable over time, suggesting that postmigration refugees and voluntary migrants may be best served by similar programs. © 2012 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

refugee psychological aspect human Life Change Events middle aged Refugees statistics life event Aged United States Young Adult Humans Adolescent male female Aged, 80 and over very elderly Article adult migration posttraumatic stress disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Transients and Migrants Depressive Disorder, Major major depression
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84870733489&doi=10.1002%2fjts.21763&partnerID=40&md5=6a5bfc052eb429f5eaa1d24cf4bc6098
DOI: 10.1002/jts.21763
ISSN: 08949867
Cited by: 24
Original Language: English