Migrants and Psychosomatic Symptoms: An Evaluation in an Emergency Centre

Abstract

Introduction

In recent years, there has been an increase in migration in Europe. Particularly, Italy has been one of the most important landing place. Currently, migrants in the province of Avellino, South Italy city, amount to about 1400, housed in 40 facilities in 23 municipalities. Psychological interest on migration and its impact on lifestyle patterns has increased in recent years.

Objectives

There are few studies that evaluated the frequent psychosomatic symptoms in these populations. Despite the trauma experienced, they are not able to give a name to the suffered and somatized pain.

Aim

Assessment of somatic symptoms reported by the immigrant cohort after a three-month observation period.

Methods

We included 50 migrants (21.3 mean years) hosted in emergency centre in Avellino, Italy. All guests have conducted psychological clinical interviews. At baseline, were administered following scales: the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9); Illness Behaviour Inventory (IBI); Symptoms checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) scale. Same data was collected after three months.

Results

The migrant group was a heterogeneous group. Overall data on IBI and PHQ-9 scale indicate a statistically significant variation baseline vs deadline Data of IBI scale is statistically significant [T-Score: 3,921; P: 003]; also with PHQ-9 [T0 vs. T1: T-Score: 3,986; P: .003]. Similar results have been found with SCL-90-R.

Conclusions

In their vocabulary, terms such as anxiety, sadness, fear exist hardly. They tend to minimize the psychological pain, not because I do not feel, but because move it on the body. They have difficulty to talk about emotions, not just a matter of culture and language, but also because they are ashamed.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.