title: Do immigration and acculturation have an impact on hyperemesis gravidarum? Results of a study in Berlin/Germany.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  How large is the number of immigrant women being treated for hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) among the in-patients in a University hospital in Germany? Does migration have an impact on the psychosocial state of HG patients? Does acculturation have an impact on psychosocial distress in HG patients?
  
  
  METHODS
  The following methods were used: retrospective evaluation of all in-patients with HG from 1/1997 to 11/2009, inquiry of a consecutively surveyed group (from 2007 to 2009) of HG in-patients with a questionnaire set: socio-demographic data, questionnaire on psychic distress (SCL-90-R) questionnaire on migration/acculturation, and comparison of German patients and patients with immigration backgrounds as well as among immigrant groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 13-year study period, there were 4.5 times more immigrants treated for HG than native German patients. Compared to the age standardized resident population, the number of women with immigration backgrounds is over-proportionally high. The HG patients scored high in the SCL-90-R scale "somatization" without showing a higher level of psychic distress than the native patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Experience of migration is an etiological cofactor for HG. The grade of acculturation does not have a significant influence on the psychic well-being of HG patients.
authors.affiliation: Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Klinik für Gynäkologie, Berlin, Germany. matthias.david@charite.de
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: Theda
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Borde
authors.forename: Friederike
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Siedentopf
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000208:ethnology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D006939:Hyperemesis Gravidarum / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008603:Mental Health / Q000208:ethnology; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D044382:Population Groups / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires