[Medical Treatment of Newly Arrived Refugees in Erlangen: A Study of Drug Prescription Rates Focused on Psychotropic Drugs]

Psychother Psychosom Med Psychol. 2017 Apr;67(3-04):119-125. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-116325. Epub 2016 Oct 17.
[Article in German]

Abstract

Background: In 2015 the number of refugees who sought asylum in Germany has increased dramatically. Therefore, the medical care for these refugees faces huge challenges. The treatment of mental illness of refugees is a particular difficult topic. Objective of this study is the acquisition of the outpatient prescriptions of drugs for newly arrived refugees in Erlangen, focused on psychotropic drugs. Methods: Evaluation of all outpatient prescribed drugs (n=1 137), which were prescribed between 10/01/2014 and 09/30/2015 for asylum seekers living in the refugee center in Erlangen, a branch of the "Central Admission Institution" ("ZAE") Zirndorf. Funding organization of this treatment is the City of Erlangen. Settlement documents of the City of Erlangen were used for the analysis. Results: The prescribed drugs cover the spectrum of acute primary care. Big parts of the prescription rates are antiinfectives (ATC-Code: J), medication for the respiratory system (ATC: R), as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID's: ibuprofen, paracetamol, metamizole). The prescription of psychotropic drugs is relatively underrepresented.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Ambulatory Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Drug Utilization / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Germany
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Mental Disorders / psychology
  • Middle Aged
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / statistics & numerical data*
  • Psychotropic Drugs / therapeutic use*
  • Refugees / psychology*
  • Refugees / statistics & numerical data
  • Respiratory System Agents / therapeutic use
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Psychotropic Drugs
  • Respiratory System Agents