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Incidence and prevalence of mental disorders among immigrants and native Finns: a register-based study

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Abstract

Purpose

Migrants appear to have a higher risk of mental disorders, but findings vary across country settings and migrant groups. We aimed to assess incidence and prevalence of mental disorders among immigrants and Finnish-born controls in a register-based cohort study.

Methods

A register-based cohort study of 184.806 immigrants and 185.184 Finnish-born controls (1.412.117 person-years) was conducted. Information on mental disorders according to ICD-10 was retrieved from the Hospital Discharge Register, which covers all public health care use.

Results

The incidence of any mental disorder was lower among male (adjusted HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.77–0.87) and female (aHR 0.76, 95% CI 0.72–0.81) immigrants, being lowest among Asian and highest among North African and Middle Eastern immigrants. The incidence of bipolar, depressive and alcohol use disorders was lower among immigrants. Incidence of psychotic disorders was lower among female and not higher among male immigrants, compared with native Finns. Incidence of PTSD was higher among male immigrants (aHR 4.88, 95% CI 3.38–7.05).

Conclusions

The risk of mental disorders varies significantly across migrant groups and disorders and is generally lower among immigrants than native Finns.

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Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to Dr. Sebastián Peña for assistance with the graphic design of the figures.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, Clínica Alemana Universidad del Desarrollo, Av. Las Condes 12 438, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile

    Niina Markkula

  2. Mental Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland

    Niina Markkula & Jaana Suvisaari

  3. Department of Psychiatry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

    Venla Lehti

  4. Research Centre for Child Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    Venla Lehti & Mika Gissler

  5. Information Services Department, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland

    Mika Gissler

  6. Division of Family Medicine, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

    Mika Gissler

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  1. Niina Markkula
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Correspondence to Niina Markkula.

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On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Funding

The study was financially supported by Jalmari and Rauha Ahokas Foundation, the Finnish Psychiatric Association, Emil Aaltonen Foundation and Helsinki University Hospital Research Funds.

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Markkula, N., Lehti, V., Gissler, M. et al. Incidence and prevalence of mental disorders among immigrants and native Finns: a register-based study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 52, 1523–1540 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-017-1432-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-017-1432-7

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