© 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. Tous droits réservés. http://france.elsevier.com/direct/EURPSY/ EUROPEAN PSYCHIATRY European Psychiatry 23 (2008) S4–S9 Quality of life of Turkish patients with depression in Ankara and in Berlin D. Iren Akbiyik 1* , O.E. Berksun 2 , V. Sumbuloglu 3 , V. Sentürk 4 , S. Priebe 5 1 Ankara Oncology Research and Training Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Ankara, Turkey 2 Ankara University, Department of Psychiatry, Ankara, Turkey 3 Karaelmas University, Department of Biostatistics, Zonguldak, Turkey 4 Ankara University, Department of Psychiatry, Turkey 5 Social & Community Psychiatry, Newham Centre for Mental Health, London, UK Abstract Background and Objectives – Quality of life (QOL) of immigrant groups with mental disorders should be compared with similar patients in the country of origin. Therefore, this study evaluated the QOL in Turkish patients who were in treatment because of depressive disorders in Ankara and Berlin. Subjects and Methods – Patients with depressive disorders were recruited from services in Ankara and Berlin. The same researcher interviewed all patients and assessed socio-demographic characteristics, symptomatology, psychiatric diagnosis and QOL. Results – QOL of patients in Ankara was significantly higher than that of patients in Berlin. Satisfaction with specific life domains also showed significant differences between the two groups. Factors positively associated with QoL in Berlin were marital status, shorter duration of marriage, fewer occupants per household, a relaxed religious attitude, being informed about the illness by the physician, and lower levels of symptoms. In Ankara, only initial help seeking behavior and level of depressive symptoms were associated with QOL. Conclusion – QOL of Turkish patients with depression in Berlin appears lower than that of similar patients in Ankara. Different factors may influence QOL of Turkish patients with depression living in the place of origin and having emigrated to Germany. ©2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved. Key words: Quality of life; Depression; Berlin; Ankara; Immigration 1. Introduction Quality of life (QOL) depends on many factors including housing, job, education, health services, cultural and reli- gious differences, expectations from the society and rela- tionships, involvement in public life and mental health [10]. The literature suggests that immigrants often have lower incomes, poorer housing conditions, and higher unemploy- ment rates than people of the host country [5]. Moreover, due to cultural and language differences, their education level is generally lower. The perception of mental and physical disorders, influenced by cultural factors can negatively affect the help seeking behavior of the immigrants. As a result, misdiagnoses and mistreatments can be frequent [7]. All of these factors may reduce the quality of life of immi- grants with mental disorders as compared to the population of the host country [14]. The association between depression and subjective QOL is well known [16]. Depression can be associated with poor social functioning (Wells et al. [17]), and the negative impact on social functioning may persist in patients even after the remission of depressive symptoms [13]. This study aimed to assess the subjective QOL of Turkish patients with depressive disorders in Ankara and in Berlin and identify factors influencing QOL in each group. 2. Methods 2.1. Study design and patient selection This is a cross sectional study for assessing QOL in Turkish migrants and non-migrants with depression. The two groups of patients compared in this study were. * Corresponding author. E-mail: deryaakbiyik@yahoo.com (D. Iren Akbiyik). 02_AKBIYIK.fm Page 4 Jeudi, 10. janvier 2008 3:25 15