Psychiatric care utilization among children in refugee families – a Swedish population-based study

Abstract

Abstract Background Previous studies have demonstrated a high prevalence of mental health problems, in particular depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), among individuals with experiences of war, persecution, and torture. Mental health problems can affect parenting and the well-being of the children. However, few large-scale studies have investigated the intergenerational effects of psychological trauma on children in refugee families. Methods Register data on all children living in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2016 (>90 000) were used to investigate utilization of child and adolescent psychiatric care in relation to parental PTSD, in foreign-born and Swedish-born refugee children compared to non-refugee children. Results In total, 13% of children in refugee families had a parent who had been treated for PTSD. Preliminary results showed an increased risk of psychiatric care use among foreign-born refugee children (HR: 2.68, 95% CI: 2.08-3.44) and in Swedish-born children in refugee families (HR: 1.86, 95% C.I: 1.43-2.41), whose mothers had been treated for PTSD. No association was observed in relation to PTSD diagnoses in fathers. Conclusions The findings indicate that refugee children with experience of PTSD of the mother were more than twice as likely to have been in contact with child and adolescent psychiatric services. This underlines the importance of making mental health care available so that adequate support and treatment is offered to refugees and their children. Key messages This study contributes with important information on the intergenerational effects of psychological trauma in refugee families. In order to prevent mental health problems in refugee children, Public health interventions for their parents with PTSD are crucial.