title: Symptoms, quality of life and level of functioning of traumatized refugees at psychiatric trauma clinic in Copenhagen.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize physical and mental health in trauma exposed refugees by describing a population of patients with regard to background, mental health history and current health problems; and to identify pre- and post-migratory predictors of mental health.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients receiving treatment at the Psychiatric Trauma Clinic for Refugees in Copenhagen from April 2008 to February 2010 completed self-rating inventories on symptoms of PTSD, depression and anxiety as well as level of functioning and quality of life before treatment. Then, associations of pre and post migratory factors with mental health were explored using linear and logistic regression and Pearson's correlation coefficients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the patients, the prevalence of depression, somatic disease, pain, psychotic symptoms co-existing with PTSD and very low level of functioning was high. Persecution, being an ex-combatant and living currently in social isolation were significantly associated with PTSD arousal symptoms and self-reported pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  New treatment modalities should seek to address all of the symptoms and challenges of the patients including psychotic and somatic symptoms and social isolation, and studies of treatment effect should clarify all co-morbidities so that comparable populations can be included in treatment evaluation studies.
authors.affiliation: Competence Center for Transcultural Psychiatry (CTP), Psychiatric Center Ballerup, the Mental Health Services of the Capital Region of Denmark.
authors.forename: Cæcilie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buhman
authors.forename: Erik Lykke
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Mortensen
authors.forename: Stine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lundstrøm
authors.forename: Jasmina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ryberg
authors.forename: Merete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nordentoft
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ekstrøm
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000208:ethnology; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D014104:Torture / Q000523:psychology