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Understanding psychopathology in migrants: A mixed categorical-dimensional approach

Author

Listed:
  • Mauro Braca
  • Domenico Berardi
  • Elisa Mencacci
  • Martino Belvederi Murri
  • Stefano Mimmi
  • Fabio Allegri
  • Fausto Mazzi
  • Marco Menchetti
  • Ilaria Tarricone

Abstract

Background: Literature on mental disorders in migrants is constantly increasing. Only a few studies describe psychopathological dimensions in migrants over their nosographic diagnoses; however, there is a growing literature about the greater utility of a categorical-dimensional approach, rather than a solely categorical approach, in the understanding of mental disorders. The aim of this paper is to describe the phenomenology of mental disorders in migrants referred to the Transcultural Psychiatric Team of Bologna (BoTPT), by analysing the psychopathological dimensions that underlie their clinical diagnoses. Methods: We recruited all migrants who attended the BoTPT between May 1999 and July 2009. The psychopathological assessment was conducted with the Association for Methodology and Documentation in Psychiatry (AMDP) and clinical diagnoses were formulated according to ICD-10. We proceeded through a two-step analysis: (1) comparing the prevalence rates of psychopathological symptoms across diagnoses; then (2) conducting a factor analysis to assess how those symptoms configure psychopathological dimensions and how these dimensions underlie clinical diagnoses. Results: As expected, we found significant associations between diagnoses and the prevalence of their core psychopathological symptoms. Factor analysis revealed a strong polymorphism of the psychopathological presentation of mental disorders and unexpectedly showed that in each diagnostic cluster, the first extracted factor was not composed of core symptoms. Conclusions: A mixed categorical-dimensional approach seems to improve the description of the psychopathology among migrants, as it adds relevant information regarding psychopathological dimensions useful to the understanding of the peculiar clinical expressivity of our patients.

Suggested Citation

  • Mauro Braca & Domenico Berardi & Elisa Mencacci & Martino Belvederi Murri & Stefano Mimmi & Fabio Allegri & Fausto Mazzi & Marco Menchetti & Ilaria Tarricone, 2014. "Understanding psychopathology in migrants: A mixed categorical-dimensional approach," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 60(3), pages 243-253, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:60:y:2014:i:3:p:243-253
    DOI: 10.1177/0020764013484237
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Montgomery, Edith, 2008. "Long-term effects of organized violence on young Middle Eastern refugees' mental health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(10), pages 1596-1603, November.
    2. Ilaria Tarricone & Anna Rita Atti & Mauro Braca & Graziano Pompei & Michela Morri & Francesca Poggi & Saverio Melega & Elisa Stivanello & Lorenza Tonti & Maria Nolet & Domenico Berardi, 2011. "Migrants referring to the Bologna Transcultural Psychiatric Team: Reasons for drop-out," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 57(6), pages 627-630, November.
    3. Phyllis W.L. Lau & Judy G.Y. Cheng & Dickson L.Y. Chow & G.S. Ungvari & C.M. Leung, 2009. "Acute Psychiatric Disorders in Foreign Domestic Workers in Hong Kong: a Pilot Study," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 55(6), pages 569-576, November.
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