Depression and posttraumatic stress disorder in Southeast Asian refugees.
The authors report on 404 Southeast Asian refugees seen at a community clinic. Approximately three-quarters of these patients met DSM-III criteria for major depressive episode, and 14% had posttraumatic stress disorder. Complaints of pain and sleep disturbances were the predominant presenting symptoms. Most of the men were married, but more than 40% of the women were widowed. Between 15% and 30% of the patients reported specific traumatic experiences either in their homeland or during their escape. Widowhood and such traumatic experiences were positively correlated with more symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Kroll
J
J
Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis.
Habenicht
M
M
Mackenzie
T
T
Yang
M
M
Chan
S
S
Vang
T
T
Nguyen
T
T
Ly
M
M
Phommasouvanh
B
B
Nguyen
H
H
D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D001210:Asia, Southeastern / Q000208:ethnology; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012847:Single Person; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*