Pathways to and Results of Psychiatric Consultation for Patients Referred from the Emergency Department. Are there Differences between Migrant and Native Patients

The aim of this study was to compare migrants and native Italians on the pathways to care and results of psychiatric consultation (PC) in the emergency department (ED). Patients who were referred from the ED for psychiatric consultation (EDPC) at the Maggiore della Carita Hospital between March 2008 and March 2015 were recruited consecutively. Socio-demographic, clinical and consultation variables were recorded along with information about suicidal behaviours; migrants (n = 379; 42.74% males, 57.26% females; age: 45.38 ± 16.95 years) were compared with native Italians (n = 2942; 43.51% males, 56.49% females; age: 42.08 ± 15.89 years). Migrants were younger, more likely to be unemployed and less likely to be already under the care of a psychiatrist. Symptoms related to use of alcohol or substances were more frequent in migrants, especially female migrants. Migrants were less likely than native Italians to be referred for PC because of the presence of psychiatric symptoms, however they were more likely to b...