Community Mental Health Journal
Volume 37, Issue 3, 2001, Pages 261-271

PTSD among Bosnian refugees: A survey of providers' knowledge, attitudes and service patterns (Review)

Weine S.M. , Kuc G. , Dzudza E. , Razzano L. , Pavkovic I.
  • a Project on Genocide, Psychiatry and Witnessing, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States, Health Research and Policy Centers, Suite 400, 850 W. Jackson Street, Chicago, IL, 60607, United States
  • b Project on Genocide, Psychiatry and Witnessing, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States
  • c Project on Genocide, Psychiatry and Witnessing, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States
  • d Project on Genocide, Psychiatry and Witnessing, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States
  • e Project on Genocide, Psychiatry and Witnessing, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate providers' knowledge, attitudes and service provision patterns for Bosnian refugees with PTSD and to consider the overall implications for trauma-related mental health services. A survey instrument was developed and administered to 30 randomly selected service providers working with Bosnian refugees in Chicago. This sample includes primary medical care providers (n = 7), community social service providers (n = 12), and mental health service providers (n = 11). Results showed that knowledge about PTSD is highest in mental health service providers, as is amount of previous training and education about PTSD. Less than half of all providers systematically assess for PTSD, and standardized instruments for PTSD are rarely used. The top three overall recommendations for services were ranked as: 1. Psychotherapy; 2. No intervention; 3. Psychiatric evaluation. In general, less than half of providers hold attitudes toward refugees as suffering from illnesses or mental disorders, or that "something" is wrong with them. Likewise, only half of the providers reported providing education to refugees and their families about the possible mental health consequences of trauma. In conclusion, assessment, intervention and educational activities of providers are not consistent with literature documenting that PTSD is highly prevalent in refugee populations. New training programs, model development, and research initiatives are needed to address the needs of refugees.

Author Keywords

PTSD Refugees Services

Index Keywords

community mental health primary medical care refugee mental health service education program psychological aspect behavior therapy health care personnel human psychologic assessment Refugees statistics Chicago Professional-Patient Relations Bosnia and Herzegovina clinical practice ethnology Social Work Professional Competence health personnel attitude interview Attitude of Health Personnel United States Bosnia-Herzegovina human relation Physician's Practice Patterns health program Humans chi square distribution male Chi-Square Distribution female preventive health service Review Community Mental Health Services Article manpower posttraumatic stress disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic sample size patient attitude Interviews Analysis of Variance primary health care health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0035376447&doi=10.1023%2fA%3a1017533214935&partnerID=40&md5=1797ad2ec2746440540919a67cfcdc18
DOI: 10.1023/A:1017533214935
ISSN: 00103853
Cited by: 18
Original Language: English