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Refugee Health Care pp 149–162Cite as

Risk Factors and Prevalence of Mental Illness in Refugees

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Abstract

This chapter aims to help medical providers identify the refugees at risk for developing mental health problems. We begin by describing the current mental health screening requirements both overseas and after arrival in the United States. The challenges of screening for mental health disorders in this population are discussed. The following pre-migration factors are considered to contribute to the risk for mental illness in refugees: age, gender, education, rural versus urban origin, history of torture, death of family members. Post migration factors such as communication problems or housing have also been studied as having potential impact upon refugees’ mental health. Depression (14 to 80% prevalence) and posttraumatic stress disorder (with a prevalence between 7 and 48%) are the most common psychiatric disorders described in this population.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, 20 York St Rm F611, New Haven, CT, 06504, USA

    Paula Zimbrean M.D.

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  1. Paula Zimbrean M.D.
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Correspondence to Paula Zimbrean M.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Depts. of Internal Medicine & Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

    Aniyizhai Annamalai

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Zimbrean, P. (2014). Risk Factors and Prevalence of Mental Illness in Refugees. In: Annamalai, A. (eds) Refugee Health Care. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0271-2_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0271-2_11

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