Thomas Maier|Mathias V. Schmidt|Julia Mueller
Mental health and healthcare utilization in adult asylum seekers
University Hospital of Zurich|University Hospital of Zurich|University Hospital of Zurich
assessed sample unselected adult asylum seekers determine current mental health status patterns healthcare utilisationwe included 78 unselected adult asylum seekers first year residence zurich area switzerland swiss federal office migration provided names addresses current mental health participants assessed diagnostic interviews use healthcare services resultant costs 12month period established reference records responsible health insurance companyfortyone percent participants least one psychiatric disorder primarily major depression posttraumatic stress disorder healthcare costs 18 times average resident population asylum seekers sought medical advice twice often average residents presented high psychiatric morbidity received little specific treatmentasylum seekers incur higher healthcare costs comparable residents mentally ill asylum seekers underdiagnosed often inadequately treated