DSM-III psychiatric disorders among Hmong refugees in the United States: a point prevalence study.
The author reports on a survey of 97 Hmong adult refugees in the United States. Thirty of these refugees showed symptoms of chronic maladjustment, and 13 showed another DSM-III axis I disorder; two manifested a paranoid psychosis, and six had a major depression. There were few axis II diagnoses. Medical conditions were frequent and often psychophysiological in nature, but they were not associated with axis I disorders. Axis IV psychosocial stressors were not associated with axis I diagnoses, but subjects with an axis I disorder tended to show lower adaptive levels on axis V. The demographic condition most strongly associated with an axis I diagnosis was current status as a welfare recipient.
Westermeyer
J
J
Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455.
D000069:Acculturation; D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007812:Laos / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008370:Manuals as Topic; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010259:Paranoid Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012946:Social Welfare; D014481:United States