[Patients of immigrant origin in outpatient psychiatric facilities: a comparison between Turkish, eastern European and German patients]

Abstract

Objective: Nationwide representative survey of the use of psychiatric outpatient services in Germany.

Methods: Every fifth patient of several psychiatric outpatient services was surveyed on one index day (27 (th) of May 2008) with respect to sociodemographic characteristics, ICD-10 diagnoses, difficulties in communication, treatment duration, and number of sickness certificates.

Results: Patients with immigrant background comprised 32.5 % of all patients. Compared to German patients, patients with immigrant background received significantly more neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders (F4). Turkish patients received significantly more mood (affective) disorders diagnoses (F3), compared to German and Eastern Europe patients. Immigrants had shorter treatment duration and a higher number of sickness certificates. Eastern European patients had a significantly higher education, compared to patients with Turkish background. Patients with immigrant background were younger compared to German patients and had significantly more children.

Conclusions: The utilization of outpatient psychiatric services by patients with a migratory background is high. This suggests that immigrants benefit from the multiprofessional team and the low-treshold service offered by outpatient units.