Background: Migration is a risk factor for the onset of mental disorders. Epidemiologic studies indicate that there is an increased prevalence of depressive and somatoform disorders in individuals with a Turkish migration background in Germany.
Objectives: The aim of this review article is to determine the impact of sociocultural factors on depressive and somatoform disorders in individuals with a Turkish migration background in Germany.
Materials and methods: The systematic review is based on 23 studies identified in PubMed and PsycINFO.
Results: Acculturation, perceived discrimination and the socioeconomic status affect the severity of mental disorders, and impair the access to the health care system as well as to psychotherapy. Women with a Turkish migration background represent a particularly vulnerable group in this context.
Conclusion: Multiple factors influence the increased prevalence of depressive and somatoform disorders in individuals with a Turkish migration background in Germany. Most of the identified studies suffer from significant methodological restrictions and as such do not allow generalization to the whole population of individuals with a Turkish migration background in Germany. There is a lack of national surveys and a need for longitudinal studies in representative population samples.
Keywords: Acculturation; Discrimination; Epidemiology; Socioeconomic status; Turkish migration.