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Background: The aim of the present study was to compare the prevalence of ICD-10 psychiatric disorders in a community sample of subjects of Sardinian origin resident in Paris (here "immigrants"), of the general Parisian population ("Parisians") and of Sardinians resident in Sardinia ("Sardinians")., Methods: The sample of immigrants was obtained by contacting a fifth of all households with a Sardinian surname in Paris telephone directories. The other samples have already been partially described in previous studies. All subjects were interviewed using the CIDIS, a shortened version of the structured WHO interview CIDI., Results: High or very high response rates were achieved in all studies. The final sample sizes were: 153 immigrants, 2,260 Parisians and 1,040 Sardinians. Immigrants showed high rates of depressive disorders, as did Parisians, and high rates of anxiety disorders, as did Sardinians. The immigrants' offspring (second-generation immigrants) seemed to be particularly at risk for depression, drug-abuse and bulimia. Elderly Sardinians who had returned to Sardinia after a long period of emigration showed an increased risk of dysthymia. The presence of a confidential relationship had a protective effect., Conclusions: The results are consistent with previous findings which suggest a greater risk of anxiety disorders in Southern Europe and of depression in Northern European countries. Immigrants in this study seem to present a particularly unfavourable pattern of mental disorders compared to both origin and host populations. The role of social support, use of mental health services and social conditions of second-generation immigrants should be analysed in greater depth.