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. © 2014 Elsevier Inc.

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anxiety depression refugee demography indigenous people Social Desirability mental health human Refugees middle aged population group statistics and numerical data Population Groups controlled study morbidity Depressive Disorder Psychopathology Anxiety Disorders resident Mental Disorders Cross-Sectional Studies mental disease migrant worker cross-sectional study Humans psychology Cross-Cultural Comparison male female questionnaire cultural factor Psychometrics psychometry Article Questionnaires translating (language) Translating migration adult posttraumatic stress disorder major clinical study Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic outcome assessment mental hospital Transients and Migrants illegal immigrant Switzerland Multilingualism