In this recent report, researchers in Hong Kong, People's Republic of China conducted a study "To explore the psychopathology of foreign domestic workers (FDWs) who had an acute psychiatric disorder in Hong Kong. This was a retrospective chart review."

"Demographic and clinical data were extracted from case records of FDWs who were admitted for the first time as inpatients for psychiatric treatment to three regional hospitals of the same catchment area in Hong Kong between 2000 and 2004. Relevant socio-demographic data on local FDWs and the general population of Hong Kong were obtained from local government departments. Twenty-seven Filipino and 14 Indonesian FDWs presenting with their first and so far only psychiatric admission were identified. There were significantly more FDWs who were single or never married in the sample. Filipino FDWs tended to fall ill after 4 years of service in Hong Kong while the corresponding figure for Indonesian FDWs was 2 years. Indonesian FDWs were older and had less access to social and medical services than their Filipino counterparts. Home sickness and marital problems were more commonly identified as stressors rather than work-related difficulties. Acute and Transient Psychotic Disorder (ICD-10) was diagnosed in over 60% of the subjects, making FDWs two times more vulnerable than local women of similar age for this illness. FDWs constitute a vulnerable group in terms of psychiatric morbidity," wrote P.W.L. Lau and colleagues, Chinese University of Hong Kong (see also Life Sciences).

The researchers concluded: "Concerted political, social and psychological efforts would be required to alleviate the distress faced by this particularly disadvantaged subset of female expatriates."

Lau and colleagues published their study in International Journal of Social Psychiatry (ACUTE PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS IN FOREIGN DOMESTIC WORKERS IN HONG KONG: A PILOT STUDY. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2009;55(6):569-576).

For additional information, contact C.M. Leung, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Dept. of Psychiatry, Shatin, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.

Publisher contact information for the International Journal of Social Psychiatry is: Sage Publications Ltd., 1 Olivers Yard, 55 City Road, London EC1Y 1SP, England.