Clinical features and pathway to care of migrants referring to the Bologna Transcultural Psychiatric Team

Abstract

A total of 182 migrants were followed-up from 1999 until 2007 by the Bologna-west Transcultural Psychiatric Team (BoTPT). Most of these patients came from North and sub-Saharan Africa (54%), were suffering from adjustment disorders and were referred by social or voluntary services, while only 16% came through general practitioners. Clinical diagnoses, psychopathology and pathways to care were closely related to socio-demographic features and ethnic groups. More efforts should be made to ameliorate pathways to care among migrants. In particular we should provide ethnic minorities with information about mental illness and services and we should teach primary and secondary levels of care to acquire greater cultural awareness.