OBJECTIVES: To study potentially traumatic events (PTE), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, somatization and post-migration living difficulties (PMLD) in primary care immigrants. DESIGN: Patients self-rated transculturally validated questionnaires. Those with and without PTSD were compared on all variables. The influence of the number of PTE and of PMLD on PTSD was measured. RESULTS: 391 patients completed the questionnaires. Prevalence of PTSD was 10.2%. PTE and PMLD were frequent in the whole sample but more common in PTSD subjects. Either the number of PTE and of PMLD significantly increased the likelihood to have a PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: PTE, PMLD, PTSD and related conditions (anxiety, depression and somatization) are frequent among immigrants in primary care, and either PTE and PMLD significantly influence resulting psychopathology. The implications in clinical practice are discussed.

The role of post-migration living difficulties (PMLD) on somatization was studied in 101 first generation immigrants visited in primary care. Premigratory traumas and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were also assessed. About one third of patients somatized. Sociodemographic variables were similar in somatizers and non-somatizers. Premigratory traumas, PTSD and the likelihood to report at least one serious or very serious PMLD were higher in somatizers. Four kinds of PMLD were more frequent in somatizers: worries about unavailability of health assistance, working problems, discrimination and poor social help. Traumas and PTSD influenced the effect of PMLD on somatization. Findings suggest that in specific samples of primary care immigrants severe premigratory traumas increase the sensitivity to PMLD and in turn distress due to PMLD amplifies the tendency to somatize.

Lo studio valuta il ruolo delle difficoltà di vita post-migratorie (PMLD) in 101 immigrati visitati in medicina generale. Sono stati considerati anche i traumi premigratori e il disturbo post-traumatico da stress (PTSD). Circa un terzo dei pazienti somatizza. Le variabili sociodemografiche sono simili tra somatizzatori e non. I traumi premigratori, il PTSD e la probabilità di avere almeno una PMLD grave o molto grave sono aumentati nei somatizzatori. Nei somatizzatori sono più frequenti quattro tipi di PMLD: paura di non ricevere assistenza medica, difficoltà lavorative, discriminazione e scarsa assistenza sociale. I traumi e il PTSD influenzano l'effetto delle PMLD sulle somatizzazioni. I risultati suggeriscono che, in campioni specifici di immigrati visitati in medicina generale, gravi traumi premigratori aumentino la sensibilità alle PMLD e che il disagio dovuto alle PMLD amplifichi la tendenza a somatizzare.