Research aim: To investigate the psychiatric diagnoses and assessment of migrants in Denmark, compare diagnostic patterns with native Danes, and explore the potential for improving diagnostic practices using the Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI).

Design: This PhD project consists of three sub-studies: a registry-based study on diagnostic shifts, an observational study on transcultural assessment at CTP, and a study on the use of the CFI in clinical settings.

Population: Migrant patients in Denmark, including 30,000 migrants in a registry-based study, 240 patients from CTP, and 70 patients referred to various clinics for the CFI study.

Methods: Data will be drawn from Danish registries and patient records, with follow-up interviews and assessments using ICD-10 and CFI. Statistical comparisons and regression analyses will be used to analyze diagnostic shifts and the impact of CFI on diagnostic accuracy.

Primary investigator: Signe Skammeritz, MD, PhD

Supervisors: Jessica Carlsson, MD, PhD, Erik Lykke Mortensen Msc Psychology, PhD, Marie Nørredam, MD, PhD

The project is carried out in collaboration with Section of immigrant medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Hvidovre (IMK), and The Danish Research Centre for Migration, Ethnicity and Health (MESU).

Publications

Skammeritz, S., Sari, N., Jiménez-Solomon, O., & Carlsson, J. (2019). Interpreters in transcultural psychiatry. Psychiatric services, 70(3), 250-253.

Skammeritz, S., Lindberg, L. G., Mortensen, E. L., Norredam, M., & Carlsson, J. (2020). Using the Cultural Formulation Interview in Denmark: Acceptability and clinical utility for medical doctors and migrant patients. Transcultural Psychiatry, 57(4), 556-566.