After the year 2000, external legal and illegal circulatory migration from Romania reached huge proportions. Germany and Austria, France, then Italy and Spain became major destination countries for emigration.

The present study will describe the socio-demographic profile of the migrants who have developed mental illness, discuss the possible implications of migration on the mental health status.

50 patients were assessed by a semi-structured interview investigating the immigration conditions, BPRS.

Most of the patients were young, single, had no previous experience abroad, with few social ties in the host country. Their level of education entitled them for better jobs, but due to the fact that most of them were illegal immigrants with poor language skills, they had to accept lower paid, unqualified and insecure jobs. The most frequent diagnosis indicated the schizophrenia spectrum.

The vulnerability of migrants for mental health problems, especially for schizophrenia is still debated. The patients included in the present study fit the general profile of the emigrant. Discrimination, social isolation, insecurity may increase the risk for mental illness.