Clinical Neuropsychiatry
Volume 7, Issue 6, 2010, Pages 203-210

Use of psychiatric emergency services by immigrants in an Italian first aid setting (Article)

Zaninotto L.* , Cremonese C. , Campagnola N. , de Girolamo G. , de Ronchi D. , Serretti A. , Santonastaso P.
  • a Institute of Psychiatry, University of Bologna, 40123 Bologna, Italy
  • b Institute of Psychiatry, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
  • c Institute of Psychiatry, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
  • d IRCCS Centra S. Giovanni di Dio - Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
  • e Institute of Psychiatry, University of Bologna, 40123 Bologna, Italy
  • f Institute of Psychiatry, University of Bologna, 40123 Bologna, Italy
  • g Institute of Psychiatry, University of Padova, Padova, Italy

Abstract

Objective: To describe the demand for psychiatric interventions by foreign nationals in an Emergency Room setting and to assess any difference in psychopathological presentation and outcome of the intervention between Italians and immigrants. Method: We reviewed 10082 psychiatric consultations, conducted between January 1st 2003 and December 31st 2008 at the Emergency Department (ED) of Padova General Hospital. Patients with more than one consultation in the index period were excluded. 898 immigrants were compared to a control group of 5304 Italians. Results: Sub-Saharan and Asian patients appeared to have a more than doubled risk of being diagnosed with a non-affective psychotic disorder (respectively, OR=2.11 and OR=2.43). Sub-Saharan patients had also a higher probability of being referred by the ED physician for an improper psychiatric consultation (OR=4.10). Patients from an European or a North African country were associated to a higher probability of being referred to an Italian outpatient service, while compulsory admission was found to be significantly associated to diagnosis but not to nationality. Conclusions: A different use of psychiatric emergency services by some ethnic and minority groups may require the planning for further studies and adequate treatment and prevention strategies. © 2010 Giovanni Fioriti Editore s.r.l.

Author Keywords

Psychosis immigrants Health care research Psychiatric emergency services

Index Keywords

involuntary commitment mood disorder immigrant Negro Asian anxiety disorder human sex difference suicide attempt psychosis controlled study outpatient care substance abuse prognosis mental health care ethnic difference male female patient referral high risk population Article adult emergency health service Italy restlessness health care need
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79952463985&partnerID=40&md5=4432d0de16d93e51a670561a443a37a4
ISSN: 17244935
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English