Psychiatric problems in returning travelers: features and associations.
BACKGROUND
Travelers may return from the tropics with psychological problems. The literature regarding features and associations of these psychological problems is limited.


METHODS
Case histories of 15 consecutive returning travelers seen at our psychiatric service during the last 8 years.


RESULTS
The median age of this group was 25 years, 10 were males, and the length of trip ranged from 10 days to 8.5 months. None of these travelers had prior psychopathology. The most common presentation was anxiety (with or without depression, n = 11), 3 suffered from acute psychosis, and 1 had pure depression. Eight of the travelers have used illicit drugs, which in 5 cases probably served as a trigger. Antimalarials may have played a role in 3 travelers. Six travelers needed antidepressants and supportive therapy, 3 neuroleptics, and 1 psychotherapy. These treatments lasted for 6 months and over in 6 of the travelers.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychiatric problems among travelers to the tropics are multifarious in nature, multifactorial, have a strong relation to drug abuse, and may require a long and intensive therapy. Travelers should be better educated about the risks of using illicit drugs.
Beny
A
A
Psychiatric Service, Bnai Zion Medical Center, 47 Golomb St., Technion, Haifa 31048, Israel.
Paz
A
A
Potasman
I
I
D000328:Adult; D001208:Asia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013020:South America; D014195:Travel