Journal of Traumatic Stress
Volume 15, Issue 5, 2002, Pages 415-421

The relationship between somatic and PTSD symptoms among Bhutanese refugee torture survivors: Examination of comorbidity with anxiety and depression (Article)

Van Ommeren M.* , Sharma B. , Sharma G.K. , Komproe I. , Cardeña E. , De Jong J.T.V.M.
  • a Transcultural Psychosocial Organization, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Refugees and Ethnic Minorities in Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • b [Affiliation not available]
  • c [Affiliation not available]
  • d Transcultural Psychosocial Organization, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Refugees and Ethnic Minorities in Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Faculty of Medicine, Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, Amsterdam, United States
  • e Department of Psychology and Anthropology, University of Texas, Pan American, TX, United States
  • f Transcultural Psychosocial Organization, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Refugees and Ethnic Minorities in Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Faculty of Medicine, Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, Amsterdam, United States

Abstract

Previous research has indicated a relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and somatic complaints. We examined whether this relationship is a result of shared comorbidity with anxiety and depression. Local doctors interviewed a random, community sample of 526 tortured and 526 nontortured Bhutanese refugees living in U.N. refugee camps in Nepal. The interview covered demographics, torture, somatic complaints, and PTSD, depression, and anxiety measures. Number of PTSD symptoms, independent of depression and anxiety, predicted both number of reported somatic complaints and number of organ systems involving such complaints. Physicians need to screen for PTSD when survivors of extreme stressors present nonspecific somatic complaints.

Author Keywords

Comorbidity Somatic complaints Refugees PTSD Torture

Index Keywords

anxiety depression refugee demography human comorbidity controlled study United Nations Bhutan interview examination male female symptom Article physician posttraumatic stress disorder normal human Nepal patient Torture
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0036791551&doi=10.1023%2fA%3a1020141510005&partnerID=40&md5=ce17ec417c27497dcac7bd979e770854
DOI: 10.1023/A:1020141510005
ISSN: 08949867
Cited by: 67
Original Language: English