Detailed contribution information
| Contribution title | 3271 - Stress factors and psychopathology in a sample of immigrant adolescents |
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| Contribution code | PS03-82 (P) |
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| Form of presentation | Poster |
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| Abstract |
Objective The purpose of our research is to analyse correlations between stress factors, including socio-demographic, cultural and individual ones, and psychopathology in a sample of immigrant adolescents. Method Data were collected from the medical records of 35 immigrant adolescents, aged 13 to 17 years, patients of our Child and Adolescent Mental Health Department -S. Gerardo Hospital, ASST Monza – University of Milano Bicocca (Milano, Italy) between January and April 2015. Stress factors were evaluated using MSPSS (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support Assessment) for parents, MSPSS, CLES-A (Coddington's Life Events Scale for Adolescents), YRS scale for adolescents. The psychopatological traits were evaluated using the questionnaire for symptoms SCL 90-R and two semi-structured interviews, SCID-II to identify the presence of a personality disorder and CAARMS (Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States) to determine the presence of ultra high risk (UHR) of developing psychosis. Results The social support perceived by the subjects results to be negatively correlated with UHR (p<0,05). Subjects belonging to a single family unit are less likely to develop a psychopathology in response to life changes (CLES-A) compared to subjects with divorced parents with a new family unit or with a single parent (p 0,022). The results in the SCID-II test show the presence of a Personality Disorder in the 62.9% of the sample. Considering the scores at CAARMS the sample is divided into two sub-groups: 15 subjects (42.9%) are at high risk of evolving a psychotic framework (UHR), 9 subjects (25.7%) present attenuated psychosis symptoms and 6 (17.1%) show vulnerability to psychosis, while the remaining 20 (57.1%) did not present an increased risk of developing psychosis. 10 subjects out of 35 (28.4%) have a positive anamnesis for being victims of bullying and the 70% of these belong to the subgroup UHR. The difference observed in the two subgroups (UHR and not-UHR) is statistically significant (p 0.021). Conclusion Results of our study confirmed the presence of a high psychopathological risk in immigrant adolescents, and suggest that this condition may be prevented by monitoring stress factors. Stress factors include bullying, a low perceived social support, and a not cohesive family unit. |