Migration and Pathological Journeys: A Case Report of 5 Patients at the National Hospital in Niamey

This study aims to explore the unconscious motivations underlying migration in Niger, with an emphasis on understanding the phenomenon of pathological travel. Its aim is to identify the unconscious factors of pathological travel among migrants. Pathological travel, as discussed in the scientific literature on psychopathology, is characterised by movements initiated under the influence of delusions, hallucinations or other serious psychiatric disorders. The aim of this research is to contribute to our understanding of how these unconscious factors influence migration decisions. Using a retrospective analysis of five cases, this study examines the psychological and psychiatric dimensions of migration, particularly among patients referred to the psychiatry department of the Niamey National Hospital between 2017 and 2018. The five cases analysed, representing 12% of a cohort of 40 migrant patients, suffered from chronic psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia and chronic hallucinatory psychosis. By means of diagnostic interviews and categorical sorting, three main unconscious motivations were identified: the delusional state with themes of filiation and persecution, the hallucinations that dictated the travel behaviour, and the dissociative states manifested by depersonalisation and derealisation. It also emerges from this analysis that pathological travel often involves prolonged journeys on foot and without purpose. Thus, untreated mental illness plays a significant role in shaping and influencing individual and social behaviour. The results of this study have important implications for public health and migration policy. They highlight the need to integrate health assessments into migration management systems, particularly in regions serving as transit hubs for migrants. The research also highlights the need for culturally sensitive psychiatric interventions to address the interaction between pre-existing mental disorders and migration. This study contributes to a better understanding of the psychological dimensions of migration by highlighting the importance of addressing mental health as an integral part of humanitarian action. The knowledge gained paves the way for future research to explore this understudied aspect of migration on a broader scale.