title: Immigrants' Pathways to Outpatient Mental Health: Are there Differences with the Native Population?
abstract: A poor use of mental health services has been described in immigrants. We compared the sociodemographic, clinical and treatment features of immigrants and natives attending a Community Mental Health Centre (CMHC). 191 immigrants and 191 randomly selected natives applying to the Borgomanero CMHC between 1 January 2003 and 31 August 2013 were compared. Our sample consisted mainly of the so-called "economic" immigrant. Adjustment disorders and reaction to stress were the most frequent diagnoses; in most cases symptoms onset occurred after migration. Although treatment features overlapped in the two groups (duration, number of contacts), immigrants showed a higher frequency of treatment dropout. While it is necessary to improve access to mental health services for immigrants, for the "economic" immigrant it may be more important to focus on establishing a therapeutic relationship that can be experienced as reliable and trustworthy. The finding of similar pathways to access the CMHC in natives and immigrants is encouraging.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, Dipartimento di Medicina Traslazionale, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli n. 17, 28100, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gramaglia
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, Dipartimento di Medicina Traslazionale, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli n. 17, 28100, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gambaro
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, Dipartimento di Medicina Traslazionale, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli n. 17, 28100, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, Dipartimento di Medicina Traslazionale, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli n. 17, 28100, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toso
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, Dipartimento di Medicina Traslazionale, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli n. 17, 28100, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feggi
authors.affiliation: Community Mental Health Centre (CMHCs), Viale Zoppis 8, 28021, Borgomanero, NO, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo Ignazio
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Cattaneo
authors.affiliation: Community Mental Health Centre (CMHCs), Viale Zoppis 8, 28021, Borgomanero, NO, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Castignoli
authors.affiliation: Community Mental Health Centre (CMHCs), Viale Zoppis 8, 28021, Borgomanero, NO, Italy.
authors.forename: Piera
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mainini
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, viale C.Pepoli 5, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tarricone
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, Dipartimento di Medicina Traslazionale, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli n. 17, 28100, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Torre
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, Dipartimento di Medicina Traslazionale, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli n. 17, 28100, Novara, Italy. patrizia.zeppegno@med.uniupo.it.|SC Psichiatria, AOU Maggiore della Carità, Corso Mazzini n. 18, 28100, Novara, Italy. patrizia.zeppegno@med.uniupo.it.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zeppegno
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008603:Mental Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000208:ethnology; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Community Mental Health Centre (CMHC); Immigrants; Race/ethnicity; Treatment access