title: The impact of the refugee decision on the trajectory of PTSD, anxiety, and depressive symptoms among asylum seekers: a longitudinal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine prospectively the trajectory of trauma-related psychiatric symptoms and disability amongst asylum seekers over the course of the refugee determination process. To identify the direct impact of the refugee decision on psychiatric symptoms by adjusting for other variables, namely sociodemographic characteristics, past trauma, and ongoing postmigration stresses.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort study of asylum seekers recruited from a random sample of immigration agents in Sydney, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive asylum seekers were referred for interview by immigration agents. Interviews were undertaken after the initial application and on average, 3.8 months after the refugee decision.
  
  
  METHODS
  Measures assessed premigration trauma and postmigration stressors. Mental health status was assessed using the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25. Functional impairment was assessed with the Medical Outcomes Study-Short Form 12.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-two of 73 asylum seekers were retained at follow-up. The accepted (16) and rejected (46) groups did not differ on premigration trauma or baseline psychiatric symptoms. Postdecision, the accepted group showed substantial improvements in posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and in mental health functioning, whereas the rejected group maintained high levels of symptoms on all psychiatric indices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Establishing secure residency status for asylum seekers may be important to their recovery from trauma-related psychiatric symptoms. The practical and theoretical implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales and Centre for Population Mental Health Research, Sydney South West Area Health Service, Australia.
authors.forename: Derrick
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Silove
authors.forename: Zachary
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Steel
authors.forename: Ina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Susljik
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Frommer
authors.forename: Celia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loneragan
authors.forename: Tien
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chey
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: le Touze
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ceollo
authors.forename: Mitchell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bryant
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009517:New South Wales; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*