Psychiatrische Praxis
Volume 38, Issue 1, 2011, Pages 38-44

Psychiatric expert opinions on asylum seekers in Germany [Psychiatrische Begutachtung im Asylverfahren] (Review)

Sieberer M.* , Ziegenbein M. , Eckhardt G. , MacHleidt W. , Calliess I.T.
  • a Klinik Fr Psychiatrie, Sozialpsychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Medizinische Hochschule, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
  • b Klinik Fr Psychiatrie, Sozialpsychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Medizinische Hochschule, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
  • c Klinik Fr Psychiatrie, Sozialpsychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Medizinische Hochschule, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
  • d Klinik Fr Psychiatrie, Sozialpsychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Medizinische Hochschule, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
  • e Klinik Fr Psychiatrie, Sozialpsychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Medizinische Hochschule, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany

Abstract

Objective To investigate the frequency of traumatisation, suicidality and given diagnoses in expert opinions on asylum seekers and to describe the sociodemographic characteristics of this population. Methods The psychiatric expert opinions on asylum seekers, furnished in an 8-year-period at Hannover Medical School, were analysed retrospectively for qualitative and quantitative characteristics. Results 62 psychiatric expert opinions on asylum seekers were included in this study. The asylum seekers originated from 18 different countries, mainly from Turkey and former Yugoslavia. Most expert opinions were given in secondary asylum procedures, i. e. after the initial asylum request had been rejected. The asylum seekers reported on traumatisation in 82.3 %. The most frequently reported forms of traumatisation were rape in female, and torture in male persons. According to ICD-10 or DSM-IV-R criteria posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was the most frequent diagnosis (74.1 %) in this study. The second most common diagnoses were depressive disorders (ICD-10: F32.x in 33.9 % and ICD-10: F33.x in 25.9 %). Suicidal tendency was found in 56.5 % of the asylum seekers. Conclusions Cultural differences, language barriers, a heavy burden by psychological symptoms, and clinical severity are difficulties in the process of psychiatric assessment of refugees in legal asylum procedures. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart - New York.

Author Keywords

Refugees asylum procedure PTSD Expert opinion Suicidal tendency

Index Keywords

Germany Communication Barriers depression human Refugees middle aged injury violence Turkey (republic) Aged Depressive Disorder Yugoslavia Expert Testimony Young Adult Humans male Emigrants and Immigrants female Review medical information Psychometrics suicidal behavior adult posttraumatic stress disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic personality assessment psychiatric department suicidal ideation Rape
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-78650676898&doi=10.1055%2fs-0030-1248552&partnerID=40&md5=c0ad9f0baa617e1f9d7b427580cace2c
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1248552
ISSN: 03034259
Cited by: 9
Original Language: German