[Clinical and sociodemographic Differences Between Patients with and without Migration Background in a Psychiatric Outpatient Service].

OBJECTIVE A better understanding of specific sociodemographic and clinical factors in patients with migration background may help to significantly improve psychiatric treatment outcome of these patients. Therefore, we investigated these factors in a large sample of psychiatric outpatients. METHODS N = 423 psychiatric patients of a large outpatient service were assessed for sociodemographic variables as well as clinical variables including diagnosis, psychopharmacological treatment, treatment duration and current symptom load (SCL-14). RESULTS We found significant differences between patients with and without migration background in terms of sociodemographic and clinical factors such as education, employment and main diagnose. Patients with migration background had a significantly higher current symptom load, especially for somatic symptoms. CONCLUSION The data underline the large differences between patients with and without migration background regarding sociodemographic and clinical factors. These differences should be considered in psychiatric treatment of these patients.