[Treatment of psychologically traumatised patients in Norway].
BACKGROUND
The Norwegian Directorate of Health and Social Affairs is carrying out a project on various aspects of traumatic stress. The present survey was carried out in 2001 in order to gather more knowledge about these patients within the mental health care system.


METHODS
325 hospitals, outpatient clinics and district psychiatric centres were asked by questionnaire to comment on the types of traumatised patients they treated, their own perceived professional skills, the diagnoses they used and the therapy they offered, and their contact with national and regional specialist units.


RESULTS
Refugees and victims of sexual abuse were the groups treated by most units; only a few treated veterans of UN/NATO peacekeeping forces. Half of the units reported lack of professional skills in treating refugees. Only a few units reported changes in diagnosis and treatment as a result of advice from the specialist units.


CONCLUSIONS
The high frequency of units reporting a need for better skills in treating refugees is a challenge to the mental health care system and the specialist units. The results suggest a need for discussion of the role of the national and regional specialist units as well as a need for closer cooperation between psychiatric and primary health care.
Major
Ellinor F
EF
Sosial- og helsedirektoratet, Avdeling for psykisk helse, Postboks 8054 Dep, 0031 Oslo. ebm@shdir.no
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000628:therapy; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D009664:Norway; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D011902:Rape / Q000523:psychology; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology