Immigrants from non-Western countries occupy a fifth of the beds in an acute psychiatric department. There is a prevailing clinical impression that they have higher morbidity than the traditional Norwegian population. Material. A one-year cohort of patients, n = 415, was retrospectively investigated, 80 of whom had a non-Western background. Results. The proportion of immigrant patients from the department's catchment area was 49 in 10 000, compared to 52 in 10 000 for traditional Norwegian patients, p = 0.72. Significantly more of the immigrants were men, they were younger, they got more compulsory treatment, and more often a diagnosis of psychosis, but they had less substance abuse problems. Suicidality was evenly distributed in both groups. Interpretation. Our clinical impression of a higher frequency of referral of immigrants was not substantiated. However, it is suggested that immigrants have greater difficulties in presenting their psychiatric problems to a general practitioner; hence they probably develop more severe symptoms before referral. The low incidence of referral of female immigrants could indicate a higher level of functioning, or cultural barriers to exhibiting problems.

[No Keywords available]

hospital admission Psychiatric Department, Hospital immigrant Norway correlation analysis clinical feature Developing Countries human Refugees middle aged Cohort Studies Aged mental health care Mental Disorders Humans Adolescent male female crisis intervention Referral and Consultation Incidence Article Retrospective Studies suicidal behavior major clinical study adult Catchment Area (Health) Patient Admission cohort analysis Emigration and Immigration retrospective study Commitment of Mentally Ill Emergency Services, Psychiatric