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Background Our primary aim was to determine sociodemographic and health-related risk factors for diagnosed common mental disorders (CMDs) among young refugees in Sweden. Methods All young adult refugees from Iran, Somalia and Syria (n  = 7192), who were residents in Sweden in 2009, were followed from 2010 to 2013 regarding diagnosed CMDs. Cox regression models were used to compute hazard ratios (HRs) of CMDs with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Those arriving as unaccompanied refugee minors had a lower risk of being diagnosed with CMDs (HR: 0.7; 95%CI: 0.6–0.9) than those arriving as accompanied refugee minors. A higher risk of being diagnosed with CMDs was also found in female refugees (HR: 1.3; 95%CI: 1.1–1.5) compared with male refugees. In addition, individuals with a low (HR: 1.7; 95%CI: 1.3–2.3) or a medium (HR: 1.4; 95%CI: 1.1–1.8) educational level were found to have a higher risk of being diagnosed with CMDs compared with individuals with a high educational level. Refugees from Iran (HR: 2.3; 95%CI: 1.8–2.9) had a higher risk of a diagnosis of a CMD than refugees from Somalia. Moreover, refugees with a diagnosis of a mental disorder other than a CMD (HR: 4.2; 95%CI: 2.8–6.1), digestive (HR: 1.5; 95%CI: 1.0–2.2) or musculoskeletal diseases (HR: 1.5; 95%CI: 1.0–2.2) had a higher risk of being diagnosed with subsequent CMDs, compared with those with no such disorders. Conclusions Pre-existing diagnoses of mental disorders other than CMDs, and digestive and musculoskeletal disorders should be carefully considered in clinical assessments to initiate early interventions to prevent CMDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite a reported high rate of mental disorders in refugees, scientific knowledge on their risk of suicide attempt and suicide is scarce. We aimed to investigate (1) the risk of suicide attempt and suicide in refugees in Sweden, according to their country of birth, compared with Swedish-born individuals and (2) to what extent time period effects, socio-demographics, labour market marginalisation (LMM) and morbidity explain these associations. Methods: Three cohorts comprising the entire population of Sweden, 16–64 years at 31 December 1999, 2004 and 2009 (around 5 million each, of which 3.3–5.0% refugees), were followed for 4 years each through register linkage. Additionally, the 2004 cohort was followed for 9 years, to allow analyses by refugees' country of birth. Crude and multivariate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed. The multivariate models were adjusted for socio-demographic, LMM and morbidity factors. Results: In multivariate analyses, HRs regarding suicide attempt and suicide in refugees, compared with Swedish-born, ranged from 0.38–1.25 and 0.16–1.20 according to country of birth, respectively. Results were either non-significant or showed lower risks for refugees. Exceptions were refugees from Iran (HR 1.25; 95% CI 1.14–1.41) for suicide attempt. The risk for suicide attempt in refugees compared with the Swedish-born diminished slightly across time periods. Conclusions: Refugees seem to be protected from suicide attempt and suicide relative to Swedish-born, which calls for more studies to disentangle underlying risk and protective factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Little is known regarding treatment for common mental disorders (CMDs) in young refugees. We aimed to identify (i) if the risk of treatment for CMDs in young refugees varies by their country of birth, compared with the Swedish-born population and (ii) if time period of resettlement influences these possible associations. Methods All Swedish-born individuals and people who were granted refugee status, aged 16–25 years, living in Sweden on 31 December 1999, 2004 or 2009 (around 1 million people with 3–4% refugees in each cohort), were followed for 4 years for treated CMDs by linking register data. To facilitate stratified analyses by refugees' country of birth, the 2009 cohort was followed for 7 years with regard to specialized healthcare and antidepressant prescription due to CMDs. Hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals were computed in crude and adjusted models. Results Refugees in the 2009 cohort with 7-year follow-up had a 25% lower risk for treated CMDs, compared with the Swedish-born. Stratified analysis by country of birth showed a similarly lower risk regarding treated CMDs among refugees from all countries but Iran [hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals): 1.15 (1.05–1.26)] than their Swedish-born peers. No substantial effect of time period of resettlement was observed in the risk for treated CMDs in refugees. Conclusions Treatment for CMDs is lower in young refugees than in the majority population in Sweden, is stable across time, but varies with country of birth. Strategies to improve access to mental healthcare for young refugees are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]