1579 – Migration And Mental Health Of Aborigines Of Siberia: New Challenges Of Old Problems

Abstract

Relevance

Acculturation of aborigines of Siberia and Far East of Russia was characterized by destabilizing influence of migrants and adoption of alien traditions of alcohol use. Among migrants of new wave, number of socially maladjusted migrants with depression, suicidal and addictive behavior has grown.

Objective

To define factors of prevention of alcohol-related over-mortality of native population based on monitoring of medicosocial indices of substance abuse situation, clinical dynamic and prognosis of alcoholism in differentiated groups.

Material and methods

Clinical-epidemiological and clinical-psychopathological screening of revealed (ICD-10) alcoholic patients among arctic group (Evenks, Chukchi, Koryaks, Eskimos) of north-Asian mongoloids (n=735). Group of comparison - 90 patients (F10.2) male Caucasians from this locality.

Results

Aborigines of Siberia show high frequency (50-65% in both sexes) of mental disorders. Men are characterized predominantly by alcohol dependence syndrome (maximum at age of 26-35 years), women - by affective disorders. Malign character of alcoholism determines high lethality of young men from suicide, alcohol-related accident, complications of comorbid somatic pathology with deformation of sex-age pyramid at 25—40 years. Severe degradation of personality (psychopath-like, cognitive defects) is typical; psychopathologic transformation of intoxication with aggression precedes development of withdrawal syndrome.

Discussion

Marginalization of new migration wave promotes formation of various forms of mental desadaptation, hetero (homicidal) and auto-aggressive (addictions, suicides) behavior. Factor of prevention of negative consequences of acculturation is monitoring of mental health both of aborigines and migrants. Significance is acquired by ethnological expertise of possible consequences of current migration processes for ethnodemographic parameters of scanty ethnoses.