Mental health of failed asylum seekers as compared with pending and temporarily accepted asylum seekers.
BACKGROUND
Asylum seekers (AS) and refugees often suffer from severe psychopathology in the form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As PTSD impacts memory functions, and as asylum applications rely on personal accounts, AS with PTSD are at more risk of being rejected than refugees.


METHODS
We studied the mental health of failed asylum seekers (FAS, N = 40) and a matched sample of AS (N = 40). Participants were administered structured interviews on sociodemographics, flight, exile and standardized questionnaires on PTSD, anxiety, depression and pain.


RESULTS
Both samples were severely affected; >80% exhibited at least one clinically significant condition.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the great vulnerability of these individuals, long and unsettling asylum processes as practised in Western host countries seem problematic, as does the withdrawal of health and social welfare benefits. Finally, high rates of psychopathology amongst FAS indicate that refugee and humanitarian decision-making procedures may be failing to identify those most in need of protection.
Mueller
Julia
J
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Zurich, Culmannstr. 8, CH - 8091 Zurich, Switzerland. julia.mueller@usz.ch
Schmidt
Martina
M
Staeheli
Andrea
A
Maier
Thomas
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland; D055815:Young Adult