Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-24T03:26:34.797Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Mental illness in migrants: diagnostic and therapeutic challenges

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Larkin Feeney ,
Brendan D Kelly ,
Peter Whitty  and
Eadbhard O'Callaghan
Brendan D Kelly
Affiliation:
Stanley Research Foundation(Ireland)
Peter Whitty
Affiliation:
Stanley Research Foundation(Ireland)
Eadbhard O'Callaghan
Affiliation:
University College Dublin, (Ireland) Cluain Mhuire Family Centre, Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin, Ireland
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

We describe the case of a 30 year old Chinese woman who presented to an Irish psychiatric service with a five-month history of somatic delusions, auditory hallucinations and denial of lineage. We utilise this case to illustrate the significant cultural influences on psychopathology. We discuss the increasingly frequent diagnostic and therapeutic challenges presented by migrants with mental illness.

Keywords

PsychosisDelusionHallucinationCultureTreatmentMigration
Type
Case Reports
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 19 , Issue 1 , March 2002 , pp. 29 - 31
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2002

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Department of Health and Children. Quality and Fairness: A Health System For You. Dublin: The Stationery Office, 2001.Google Scholar
2.Bhugra, D, Jones, P. Migration and mental illness. Adv Psychiatric Treat 2001; 7: 216–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Gavin, BE, Kelly, BD, Lane, A, O'Callaghan, E. The mental health of migrants. Ir Med J 2001; 94: 229–30.Google ScholarPubMed
4.Central Statistics Office. Population and Migration Estimates, www.cso.ie (verified November 27th, 2001).Google Scholar
5.Bhurga, D. Migration and schizophrenia. Acta Psych Scand 2000; 102 (Suppl. 407): 68–73.Google Scholar
6.Harrison, Get al.Increased incidence of psychotic disorders in migrants from the Caribbean to the United Kingdom. Psychol Med 1997; 27: 799–806.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Selten, JP, Slaets, JP, Kahn, RS. Schizophrenia in Surinamese and Dutch Antillean immigrants to the Netherlands: evidence of an increased incidence. Psychol Med 1997; 27: 807–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Selten, JPet al.Incidence of psychotic disorders in immigrant groups to The Netherlands. Br J Psychiatry 2001; 178: 367–72.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Bhugra, D, Leff, J, Mallet, R, Der, G, Corridan, B, Rudge, S. Incidence and outcome of schizophrenia in whites, African-Caribbeans, and Indian Asians in London. Psychol Med 1997; 27: 791–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Westermeyer, J. Psychiatric diagnosis across cultural boundaries. Am J Psychiatry 1985; 142: 799–805.Google ScholarPubMed
11.Leo, PW, Chiu, RR. Relationship of migration to paranoid and somatoform symptoms in Chinese patients. Psychopathology 1987; 20: 203–212.Google Scholar
12.Neng, T, Zhi-Xu, K, Hermann, L. Denial of lineage: clinical investigation of 50 cases. Psychopathology 1987, 20: 162–8.Google Scholar
13.Kim, Ket al.Schizophrenic delusions in Seoul, Shanghai and Taipei: a transcultural study. J Korean Med Sci 2001, 16: 88–94.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14.Rietschel, M, Kennedy, JL, Macciardi, F, Meltzer, HY. Application of pharmacogenetics to psychotic disorders: the first consensus conference. The consensus group for outcome measures in psychoses for pharmacological studies. Schizophrenia Res 1999; 25: 191–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15.Department of Health and Children. Mental Health Act, 2001. Dublin: The Stationery Office, 2001.Google Scholar