Immigrati senza permesso di soggiorno. L'esperienza di assistenza psichiatrica dell'Associazione NAGA a Milano

Background: Immigration to European countries is a complex and ever growing phenomenon that often represents a psychopathological risk factor for immigrants. The immigrants'social disadvantage seems to be related both to cultural issues and to the lack of a support network in social services. In addition, those who have entered the country illegally - the so called "irregulars" - also have to face difficulties related to their illegal status and to the lack of basic assistance. In this context, NAGA, a charity association operating in Milan, provides support by offering medical and legal assistance to immigrants with no residence permit. Aims of the study: To describe and analyze a sample of the heterogeneous "irregular" immigrant population living in Milan, focusing on the diagnosis of mental disorders. Materials and methods: The sample was selected from the total number of people who came to the NAGA psychiatric service for help during the year 2006 (N = 97). The sample was studied by using clinical diaries and SCID-I semi-structured interviews (only for 20 subjects). We also analysed general and psychopathological variables for a diagnostic evaluation and the information offered on the type of social assistance encountered (e.g.: type of psychiatric contacts and number of visits). Results: As far as clinical diagnosis is concerned, the most represented psychiatric disorders are mood disorders, alone (39.2%) or in co-morbidity with anxiety (16.5%). The semi-structured diagnosis of SCID-I also confirms this data (mood disorders, 46. 1 01o; anxiety disorders, 28.2%). Our study also showed a certain level of non-compliance to treatments, the difficulty in maintaining a long-term relationship with health care services and the presence in 30% of cases of somatoform symptoms