title: What do register-based studies tell us about migrant mental health? A scoping review.
abstract: Previous studies investigating the mental health of migrants have shown mixed results. The increased availability of register data has led to a growing number of register-based studies in this research area. This is the first scoping review on the use of registry and record-linkage data to examine the mental health of migrant populations. The aim of this scoping review is to investigate the topics covered and to assess the results yielded from these studies.
  
  
  
  We used a scoping review methodology to search MedLine, PubMed, PsychINFO, Web of Science, and SCOPUS for all register-based studies on the mental health of migrants. Two reviewers screened all papers, independently, using iteratively applied inclusion and exclusion criteria. Using gradually broadening inclusion and exclusion criteria for maximum "scope," newly published criteria developed to appraise the methodological quality of record-linkage studies were applied to eligible papers and data were extracted in a charting exercise.
  
  
  
  A total of 1309 papers were screened and appraised, 51 of which met the eligibility and quality criteria and were included in the review. This review identified four major domains of register-based research within the topic of migrant mental health: rates and risks of psychiatric disorders, rates and risks of suicide mortality, the use of psychotropic drugs, and health service utilisation and mental health-related hospitalisation rates. We found that whilst migrants can be at an increased risk of developing psychotic disorders and suicide mortality, they are less likely to use psychotropic medication and mental health-related services.
  
  
  
  This review systematically charts the register-based studies on migrants' mental health for the first time. It shows the main topics and gaps in knowledge in this research domain, discusses the disadvantages of register-based studies, and suggests new directions for forthcoming studies.
authors.affiliation: Administrative Data Research Centre (Northern Ireland), Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK. kpatel05@qub.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kishan
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5693-6831
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Administrative Data Research Centre (Northern Ireland), Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.|Department of Social Research, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.|SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kouvonen
authors.affiliation: Administrative Data Research Centre (Northern Ireland), Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Ciara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Close
authors.affiliation: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Ari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Väänänen
authors.affiliation: Administrative Data Research Centre (Northern Ireland), Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.|UKCRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Dermot
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.affiliation: Administrative Data Research Centre (Northern Ireland), Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.|UKCRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donnelly
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012042:Registries; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Immigrants; Mental health; Migrants; Migration; Record-linkage; Register data; Scoping review