[Psychosomatic symptoms and functional disorders in migrant workers--Japanese and Greeks in Germany and Germans abroad]

An epidemiologic pilot-study of Greek, Japanese and German workers in foreign countries investigates genesis, frequency and characteristic symptomatology of psychosomatic and functional disorders. Social change as pathogenic stressor as well as psychopathologic consequences on behavior were demonstrated in the context of the life-change-unit research. The increase of psychosomatic disorders corresponds with intense homesickness reactions which can change in hypochondriacal depression. Psychopathology of intense homesickness, prejudices and other factors which prevent from adequate integration in a new environmental setting were delineated as well as prophylactic-psychosocial and therapeutic procedures.