Post-migration trajectories and psychopathological vulnerability

• Published in: European psychiatry 2023-03, Vol.66 (S1), p.S36-S36
• Main Authors: Tarricone, I., Tarricone, Ilaria, D’Andrea, Giuseppe, Jongsma, Hannah E, Tosato, Sarah, Gayer-Anderson, Charlotte, Stilo, Simona A., Suprani, Federico, Iyegbe, Conrad, van der Ven, Els, Quattrone, Diego, di Forti, Marta, Velthorst, Eva, Menezes, Paulo Rossi, Arango, Celso, Parel, Mara
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abstract; Disadvantages; Migration; Psychopathology; Psychosis; Symposium
• ISSN: 0924-9338; 1778-3585
• DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.138

BackgroundPsychosis rates are higher among some migrant groups. We hypothesized that psychosis in migrants is associated with cumulative social disadvantage during different phases of migration.MethodsWe used data from the EUropean Network of National Schizophrenia Networks studying Gene-Environment Interactions (EU-GEI) case-control study. We defined a set of 3 indicators of social disadvantage for each phase: pre-migration, migration, and post-migration.Results249 cases and 219 controls were assessed. Pre-migration (OR 1.61, 95%CI 1.06-2.44, p=0.027) and postmigration social disadvantages (OR 1.89, 95%CI 1.02-3.51, p=0.044), along with expectations/achievements mismatch (OR 1.14, 95%CI 1.03-1.26, p=0.014) were all significantly associated with psychosis. We found a dose-response effect between number of adversities across all phases and odds of psychosis (≥6: OR 14.09, 95%CI 2.06-96-47, p=0.007).ConclusionsThe cumulative effect of social disadvantages before, during and after migration was associated with increased odds of psychosis in migrants, independently of ethnicity or length of stay in the country of arrival. Public health initiatives that address the social disadvantages that many migrants face during the whole migration process and post-migration psychological support may be reduce the excess of psychosis in migrants.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared