[Many psychiatric disorders in Afghan refugees with residential status in Drenthe, especially depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and help-seeking behaviour of Afghan refugees with a residence status in the province of Drenthe, the Netherlands.


METHODS
Cross-sectional prevalence study.


METHODS
By means of a modified multiflex snowball sampling with 3 primary informants, 55 Afghan households in 16 towns and villages in Drenthe were selected. After informed consent had been obtained, 51 adults completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and a culturally validated shortened 'Composite international diagnostic interview' (CIDI), DSM-IV version. Help-seeking behaviour was recorded.


RESULTS
Half of the sample had resided in the Netherlands for at least 3 years. There was a high level of education, an unemployment level of 88% and moderate to poor language skills in 92% of the respondents. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was 65% (95% CI: 52-78); depressive disorder occurred in 57% and posttraumatic stress disorder in 35%. Psychopathological findings were related to poor language skills, a lower level of education and unemployment. A total of 56% received treatment from a general practitioner and 4% were under psychiatric treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of psychiatric disorders among adult Afghan refugees in Drenthe with a residence status was considerably higher than among the general population in the Netherlands.
Gernaat
H B P E
HB
Transcultural Psychosocial Organization en Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam.
Malwand
A D
AD
Laban
C J
CJ
Komproe
I
I
de Jong
J T V M
JT
D000328:Adult; D000346:Afghanistan / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology