The adaptation process of migrants has been considered to arise from the differences that may exist between the migrant's traditional cultural background and the cultural norms and values of the society of settlement. These differences are thought to be stressful, and may induce socio-cultural and psychological changes on the part of the migrant, some of which may be maladaptive.

The main purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of psychological distress and socio-cultural adaptation among migrants who attend acute psychiatric wards. A second purpose is to examine whether or not acute psychiatric wards are used by refugees in situations of crises, like when they asylum application is turned down by the Norwegian authorities.

All immigrants, irrespective of nationality and ethnicity, admitted to acute psychiatric ward by St. Olav's hospital, were eligible to participate in the study. The sample studied included all patients admitted to the hospital from 2005-2008.

The instrument used was a self-administered questionnaire and a structured interview. The questionnaire includes questions on demographic variables, social, psychological and psychosomatic symptoms. In addition, the Beck Hopelessness Scale and Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ) were used. The data were also collected from the patients’ records and from the hospital protocols.

The admission rates, including admission by coercion, length of hospital stay, diagnosis and type of treatment were also compared among the different migrants groups.