Journal of Refugee Studies
Volume 16, Issue 2, 2003, Pages 202-211

Chronic PTSD and medical services utilization by Asylum seekers (Article)

Drozdek B.* , Noor A.K. , Lutt M. , Foy D.W.
  • a Day Treatment Centre for Refugees, Geestelijke Gezondheidszorg, Vught, Netherlands
  • b Day Treatment Centre for Refugees, Geestelijke Gezondheidszorg, Vught, Netherlands
  • c Day Treatment Centre for Refugees, Geestelijke Gezondheidszorg, Vught, Netherlands
  • d Grad. School of Education/Psychology, Pepperdine University, Culver City, CA, United States

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with frequent utilization of medical services. The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationship between these variables in a sample of asylum seekers in the Netherlands. Secondly, the hypothesis that those participants who had received therapy for their PTSD would make fewer medical visits than untreated PTSD positive participants was tested. Participants were male adult asylum seekers originating from Asian and African countries, who were administered a structured questionnaire focused on demographic and social issues, the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist. In addition, their medical files were reviewed to determine the frequency of documented medical visits. Results showed that asylum seekers with PTSD had more medical consultation visits than those without PTSD. Additionally, those asylum seekers who had received therapy for their PTSD had significantly fewer consultations than those with untreated PTSD.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

asylum seeker
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0344494639&doi=10.1093%2fjrs%2f16.2.202&partnerID=40&md5=8c1e7e843bf938ae7ff82936ab43d5ca
DOI: 10.1093/jrs/16.2.202
ISSN: 09516328
Cited by: 12
Original Language: English