The proportion of unaccompanied refugee minors suffering from psychiatric disorders in Germany

Objective: This article is the first investigation into the proportion of unaccompanied refugee minors suffering from psychiatric disorders in Germany. Method: In a retrospective study done between 2013 and 2015, any refugees showing symptoms of a psychiatric disorder during their stay in a residential refugee center were referred to an Outpatient Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for diagnostic assessment. To this end, special consultation hours were arranged. Besides the diagnoses, the number of emergency consultations occurring before and after the implementation of the special consultation hours was recorded. Results: Of the 75 refugee minors (75%) referred, 56 were suffering from a psychiatric disorder, with posttraumatic stress disorder and depression being the most common diagnoses. Following implementation of the consultation hours, the number of refugee patients initially admitted in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry on an emergency basis fell. Conclusions: Unaccompanied refugee minors are a highly vulnerable group that poses great challenges to clinical care. The implementation of special consultation hours is a constructive option for meeting these challenges. In particular, this special offer enables improvement of crisis management in the case of emergency consultations.