A comparison of the mental health of refugees with temporary versus permanent protection visas.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the impact of the Australian provisions for temporary rather than permanent protection for asylum seekers found to be genuine refugees.


METHODS
A comparison of the mental health of Persian-speaking refugees with temporary (n = 49) versus permanent (n = 67) protection visas attending an early intervention program in Sydney, New South Wales, 2002-03.


METHODS
Standard measures were used to assess past trauma, detention experiences, postmigration stresses, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression and functional impairment.


RESULTS
The two groups had experienced similar levels of past trauma and persecution. Nevertheless, holders of temporary protection visas (TPVs) returned higher scores on three psychiatric symptom measures (P < 0.001). Multivariate analyses showed that TPV status was the strongest predictor of anxiety, depression and particularly PTSD. Further analyses suggested that, for TPV holders, experience of past stresses in detention in Australia and ongoing living difficulties after release contributed to adverse psychiatric outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
The sequence of postmigration stresses experienced by TPV holders appears to impact adversely on their mental health.
Momartin
Shakeh
S
Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS), Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Steel
Zachary
Z
Coello
Marianio
M
Aroche
Jorge
J
Silove
Derrick M
DM
Brooks
Robert
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000346:Afghanistan / Q000208:ethnology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000208:ethnology; D018912:Arabs / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000145:classification*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000208:ethnology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000208:ethnology; D013997:Time Factors