European Psychiatry
Volume 23, Issue SUPPL. 1, 2008, Pages 21-27

Patients of immigrant origin in inpatient psychiatric facilities. A representative national survey by the Psychiatry and Migration Working Group of the German Federal Conference of Psychiatric Hospital Directors (Article)

Schouler-Ocak M.* , Bretz H.J. , Penka S. , Koch E. , Hartkamp N. , Siefen R.G. , Schepker R. , Özek M. , Hauth I. , Heinz A.
  • a Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité im St Hedwig-Krankenhaus Berlin
  • b Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité im St Hedwig-Krankenhaus Berlin
  • c Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, CCM
  • d Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie Marburg-Süd
  • e Abteilung für Psychosomatische Medizin, Stiftungsklinikum Mittelrhein, Gesundheitszentrum zum Hl Geist, Boppard, Germany
  • f Klinik für Kinder-und Jungendmedizin, Ruhruniversität, St Josef Hospital, Bachum, Germany
  • g Abteilung für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, -psychotherapie Universität Ulm/ ZfP Die Weissenau
  • h Psychiatrische Klinik der Medizinischen Fakultät, Istanbul Universität
  • i Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie St. Joseph-Krankenhaus Berlin - Weißensee
  • j Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, CCM

Abstract

In a representative nationwide survey, the Psychiatry and Migration Working Group of the German Federal Conference of Psychiatric Hospital Directors (Bundesdirektorenkonferenz) examined the use of inpatient psychiatric and psychotherapeutic services in Germany by patients of immigrant origin. Questionnaires were sent to a total of 350 general hospital psychiatric clinics throughout Germany, and 131 clinics responded. As shown by the 2005 Microcensus [22], almost one-fifth (18.6%) of the German population is of immigrant origin. In our study, persons of immigrant origin comprised 17% of patients in the responding facilities. This indicates that the percentage of inpatient psychiatric services used by patients of immigrant origin is almost proportionate to these patients' percentage of the general population. The largest group of immigrant patients in our study were those of Russian heritage, followed by patients of Turkish, Arabic, or other origin. Almost two-thirds of the immigrant patients were born in Germany, and a considerably larger percentage were German citizens (74%). Sixty-two per cent of all patients of immigrant origin spoke a language other than German (e.g. Russian, Turkish, Polish) at home. Patients of immigrant origin were significantly more likely to receive an ICD-10 F2 diagnosis, and it was precisely patients with this diagnosis who were observed to experience difficulties in communication with caregivers. © 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Use of inpatient psychiatric care German Federal Conference of Psychiatric Hospital Directors (Bundesdirektorenkonferenz) Psychiatry and Migration Working Group Representative national survey Patients of immigrant origin

Index Keywords

general hospital Germany immigrant hospital patient hospitalization mental health service interpersonal communication human Ethnic Groups ethnic group Turkey (republic) priority journal Arab Mental Disorders psychotherapy Humans male female questionnaire prevalence Article Questionnaires adult Emigration and Immigration Russian Federation Hospitals, Psychiatric mental health center health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-40549105326&doi=10.1016%2fS0924-9338%2808%2970058-0&partnerID=40&md5=6ad7d04d2fa9ed8bb0acc8d393a5172a
DOI: 10.1016/S0924-9338(08)70058-0
ISSN: 09249338
Cited by: 29
Original Language: English