Presentation Information
[SY-61-04]Forensic Psychiatry and Migrant Populations in Italy: Clinical Challenges and Culturally Informed Response
*Ilaria Rossetto1, Stefano Tambuzzi1, Cristina Cattaneo1, Lia Parente2, Felice Francesco Carabellese2 (1.University of Milan(Italy), 2.University of Bari(Italy))
Keywords:
Cultural Psychiatry,Forensic Treatment,Special Asylum procedures
As part of the 2015 legislative reform that reshaped the Italian forensic psychiatric care system, it is essential to examine the implications for migrant populations—a group particularly vulnerable within this context. This analysis focuses on two aspects: (1) a study conducted in the largest Italian forensic psychiatric unit, specifically investigating migrant patients, and (2) a psychological support service for migrants who have survived torture.The retrospective study analyzed the demographic, clinical, and legal characteristics of 184 migrant patients (134 men and 50 women) admitted between 2010 and 2019 to an Italian forensic psychiatric facility. These were compared to Italian patients matched by age, sex, and admission period. Results showed significant differences: male migrants were more frequently diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (p=0.04) and less frequently with personality disorders (p=0.047) than their Italian counterparts. These differences were not statistically significant among female patients. Discharge outcomes also varied: migrants were more often repatriated or transferred, whereas Italians were more likely to be conditionally released (p<0.001).Language and cultural barriers negatively affected diagnostic accuracy and treatment planning. The apparent overdiagnosis of psychosis among migrants may reflect both real clinical differences and diagnostic bias due to limited use of culturally sensitive assessment tools. The study emphasizes the urgent need for trained interpreters, cultural mediators, and clinician training in cultural competence.In parallel, migrants who claim to have been victims of torture are routinely examined at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Milan for special asylum procedures. Given frequent psychological distress or psychiatric disorders, an integrated approach involving ethnopsychiatry experts is essential for diagnosis and care.These examples highlight the urgent need for intercultural approaches in forensic psychiatry to ensure equitable, high-quality mental health care for a diverse and complex patient population