Over 900 Caregivers Diagnosed with 'Italy Syndrome' at Single Romanian Hospital

New York, NY – A recent report by Emma Bubola in The New York Times has shed light on a pervasive psychological condition dubbed "Italy syndrome," affecting Eastern European women who migrate to Italy for elder care work. The article, published on October 29, 2025, details the severe mental health toll experienced by these caregivers, with one Romanian psychiatric hospital alone treating over 900 patients for the syndrome since 2016. Bubola noted her long-standing interest in the topic, stating, > "I started thinking about this dynamic as a teenager, observing my own family, and have wanted to write about it for years. I'm happy to finally see this story out."

The "Italy syndrome" is not a formal medical diagnosis but a term used by doctors across Eastern Europe to describe the profound psychological distress, including depression, insomnia, and anguish, suffered by women returning from caregiving roles in Italy. This phenomenon emerged about two decades ago following the collapse of the Soviet Union, as many women sought better wages abroad to support their families, often working in near-confinement. Doctors at the Socola Institute of Psychiatry in Romania have observed cases of burnout, psychosis, and attempted suicide among those affected.

Caregivers frequently face demanding conditions, including 24-hour availability, isolation, and the emotional burden of witnessing the decline and death of their patients. Veronica Durughian, 73, a former doctor from Moldova who worked in Italy for two decades, recounted her experience: > "I cried for no reason, I got up in the morning and cried and I did not sleep at night. It ruined me." Many of these women, some highly educated professionals, find themselves "completely erased by care work," as Italian psychologist Maria Grazia Vergari explained.

The impact extends beyond the caregivers themselves, manifesting as a "post-Italy syndrome" in their children who were left behind. Doctors in Romania are increasingly diagnosing mental health and behavioral problems, including depression, attachment issues, and substance abuse, in youths who grew up without their mothers. Mihail Tamba, whose mother left Moldova when he was eight, shared, > "We had to go through abandonment, through solitude, through everything only to be fed. And this is something very painful."

Italy, home to one of the oldest populations in the European Union, relies heavily on these migrant caregivers, with approximately 1.6 million domestic workers, mostly women, filling essential roles. While some measures have been introduced to improve working conditions, regulating an industry largely hidden within private households remains challenging. Lorenzo Gasparrini, secretary general of Domina, an employer group, advocates for tax breaks to help families legalize workers, acknowledging the need to alleviate suffering in this vital, yet often overlooked, sector.