Scant and contradictory information prevails on the risk for common psychiatric disorders in Mexican immigrants to the United States (US). Extension of these results in larger samples is needed to better address treatment needs. This study investigates the association between migration to the US and development of depressive and anxiety symptoms in four urban areas of Mexico.

A cross-sectional survey in 2005 of individuals ages 12–65 from four cities formed a representative sample. Immigration-related experiences and prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms were recorded. Respondents were classified into three groups: (i) ‘return migrants’, (ii) ‘relatives of migrants’ and (iii) ‘non-migrants’ in the general population. Depression symptoms were assessed with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and anxiety was determined using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms were estimated as the proportion of the entire sample reporting the outcome. Crude and adjusted OR's were estimated in logistic regression models.

A total of 1630 respondents, represent a 70.5% response rate. Overall prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms were both approximately 16%. Increased risk for depressive symptoms (OR=1.49 CI 95%=1.01–2.20) among return migrants and depressive (OR=1.48, CI 95%=1.07–2.05) and anxiety symptoms (OR=1.38, CI 95%=1.08–1.78) in relatives of migrants was found in comparison to those without a migration experience.

Specific age and timing of migration experiences were not recorded.

Migration experiences produce important levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms that could be linked to psychopathology.