Depressive symptoms in first-and second-generation migrants: a cross-sectional study of a multi-ethnic working population.

Background: Migrants in Europe may suffer from depression more often than the native-born population of the particular host country. Reports about the prevalence of depression in migrants are, however, heterogeneous and the possible causes are the subject of controversial discussion.

Aims: The aims of this study are to determine the incidence of depressiveness in a large multi-ethnic working population with and without a history of migration, and to investigate possible connections with migration status and acculturation criteria.

[Integration without equalization: on necessary modifications of therapeutic strategies in the treatment of migrants].

Given an increased knowledge for the special requirements of patients with a history of migration in mental health care, different approaches varying between an adaptation of existing systems and the implementation of specialized institutions are being discussed. The present study investigates the treatment courses of 55 first generation immigrants and a control sample of 55 native patients treated in a psychiatric day clinic of a university clinic. Besides the application of questionnaires concerning treatment outcome, a detailed content analysis of treatment records was performed investigating the preference for different therapeutic approaches, migration- and culture-related aspects as well as language problems.

[Migration biography and culture as determinants of diagnostic and therapeutic processes in mentally ill immigrants. A systematic differentiation based on a qualitative content analysis of treatment courses].

A systematic differentiation of culture- in contrast to migration-related influence factors in diagnostic and therapeutic processes is introduced. "Culture-related" refers to characteristics caused by values, behavior norms and religious attitudes of the ethnic community a person belongs to. "Migration-specific" refers to consequences of moving one's residence from one country to another (e.