[Patients of immigrant origin in outpatient psychiatric facilities: a comparison between Turkish, eastern European and German patients].
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.
Schouler-Ocak
Meryam
M
Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité im St Hedwig-Krankenhaus Berlin, Berlin. meryam.schouler-ocak@charite.de
Bretz
H Joachim
HJ
Hauth
Iris
I
Montesinos
Amanda Heredia
AH
Koch
Eckhardt
E
Driessen
Martin
M
Heinz
Andreas
A
D000328:Adult; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004522:Educational Status; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005061:Europe, Eastern / Q000208:ethnology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D019303:Multilingualism; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D014421:Turkey / Q000208:ethnology; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data