Quaderni Italiani di Psichiatria
Volume 27, Issue 1, 2008, Pages 4-10

Somatization in a primary care service for immigrants [Le somatizzazioni in un ambulatorio di medicina generale per immigrati] (Article)

Martinelli B. , Raad H. , Colosimo F. , Aragona M. , Tarsitani L. , Bindi L. , Maisano B. , Geraci S.*
  • a Poliambulatorio per Immigrati, Area Sanitaria della Caritas Diocesana di Roma, via Marsala 103, 00185 Roma, Italy
  • b Poliambulatorio per Immigrati, Area Sanitaria della Caritas Diocesana di Roma, via Marsala 103, 00185 Roma, Italy
  • c Poliambulatorio per Immigrati, Area Sanitaria della Caritas Diocesana di Roma, via Marsala 103, 00185 Roma, Italy
  • d Poliambulatorio per Immigrati, Area Sanitaria della Caritas Diocesana di Roma, via Marsala 103, 00185 Roma, Italy
  • e Poliambulatorio per Immigrati, Area Sanitaria della Caritas Diocesana di Roma, via Marsala 103, 00185 Roma, Italy
  • f Poliambulatorio per Immigrati, Area Sanitaria della Caritas Diocesana di Roma, via Marsala 103, 00185 Roma, Italy
  • g Poliambulatorio per Immigrati, Area Sanitaria della Caritas Diocesana di Roma, via Marsala 103, 00185 Roma, Italy
  • h Poliambulatorio per Immigrati, Area Sanitaria della Caritas Diocesana di Roma, via Marsala 103, 00185 Roma, Italy

Abstract

Background: Somatization disorder is defined as the manifestation of physical symptoms that are not caused by an organic lesion or dysfunction, and are considered the bodily expression of an underlying psychological problem. Aims of the study: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of somatization syndromes in immigrants of various ethnic groups in a primary care setting and to understand the influence of socio-demographic characteristics and of other immigration-related variables. Materials and methods: This study was conducted in an outpatient primary care unit for immigrants, the Caritas Health Service of Rome, Italy. Three hundred and one patients (M = 148; F = 153) completed the Bradford Somatic Inventory, 21 item version (BSI-21), translated and back-translated in nine languages, and a questionnaire exploring socio-demographic characteristics and immigration-related variables. Results: The current prevalence of somatization was 38.87%. Somatization scores were significantly higher in women (M = 9.95 ± 8.43; F = 14.53 ± 8.99; p < 0.001), and in married people when compared to unmarried people (13.65 ± 9. 11 vs 10.89 ± 8.59; p < 0.01). Gender age, educational status, knowledge of Italian, length of stay in Italy, occupational status, and socio-economic conditions did not seem to affect somatization. A better condition than expected before immigrating was related to lower somatization scores (10.35 ± 9.01 vs 14.45 ± 9.2; p < 0.01). Conclusions: The high prevalence of somatization found amongst immigrants underlines the need of special attention to the early diagnosis of physical symptoms due to psychological problems. Women, married people, and immigrants who have been disappointed by the new situation appear to be more at risk for somatization.

Author Keywords

Transcultural psychiatry Somatoform disorders Social risk factors Epidemiology

Index Keywords

educational status immigrant primary medical care demography human sex difference risk assessment health service controlled study mental disease marriage male occupation female risk factor socioeconomics questionnaire prevalence scoring system Article Bradford Somatic Inventory major clinical study adult age distribution Italy ethnicity transcultural care somatization
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-42149163797&partnerID=40&md5=60087d3dcff945d071be5281641bea9b
ISSN: 03930645
Cited by: 3
Original Language: Italian