[Relationship between depression and psychosocial stress among Iranian emigrants]

Specific studies on the situation of mentally ill Iranian migrants do not exist in Germany. Studies from the USA analyze the difference between culturally dependent dysphoric affect and clinical depressivity among Iranians. Goal of this study was to discuss specific aspects of migration for depression among Iranians. 94 Iranian migrants were interviewed in different settings. Half of them met criteria for a depressive disorder, which correlated well with the depression scales BDI and HAMD. Depressives showed higher acculturation problems, immigration stress and social isolation than non-depressives. Therapy for depressive Iranian migrants should focus more strongly on barriers of acculturation than on cultural differences in psychopathology.