[Psychiatric/psychological work with refugees and asylum seekers]

In 1998 the Psychosocial Centre for Refugees performed a survey in order to study the number of refugees/asylum seekers referred during 1997 and to look for special problems in the work with these patients.

A questionnaire was sent to 115 psychiatric outpatient clinics, hospitals and family counselor offices. Items included were diagnoses, treatment, areas of work experienced as difficult, and the existence of cooperation between primary care and psychiatric services.

The majority of units reported that less than ten refugee patients were referred during 1997. Problems related to culture and communication as well as trauma-related problems were reported as the most difficult areas. Only one third of the units reported regular cooperation with primary health care.

The number of referred refugee patient was lower than expected. One explanation may be that general practitioners view psychiatric units as inaccessible for referral due to lack of resources. As a consequence, psychiatric health personnel do not develop the experience and competence that is necessary for treating these patients. Regular cooperation between psychiatric units treating refugees and the primary health care is also important because of the fact that many traumatized refugees have somatic complaints resulting from maltreatment and torture.