Psychosomatics
Volume 30, Issue 4, 1989, Pages 374-382

Delusions of Fatal Contagion Among Refugee Patients (Article)

Westermeyer J.* , Lyfoung T. , Wahmenholm K. , Westermeyer M.
  • a Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States
  • b Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States
  • c Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States
  • d Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States

Abstract

Delusions of fatal contagion were encountered in about 10% of refugee psychiatric patients from Southeast Asia belonging to one ethnic group, the Hmong. Psychotic depression was the most common diagnosis among the Hmong patients with delusions of contagion, whereas paranoid and schizophrenic diagnoses predominate in patients with similar delusions from other refugee groups. Some cases also occurred as a shared delusional disorder. Associated findings included isolation from the community, intrafamilial conflict, failure to acculturate, and sexual frustration or conflict. Most patients responded to tricyclic medication, later supplemented in about half of the cases with a neuroleptic. This syndrome, which does not appear to have been described previously, should be considered in cases of somatizing refugees who present repeatedly to medical facilities. © 2011, The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

fatality delusion ethnic or racial aspects depression major clinical study infection schizophrenia psychological aspect paranoia human adult migration
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0024455352&doi=10.1016%2fS0033-3182%2889%2972242-8&partnerID=40&md5=d529d5b59c419eeb5f83896a0324bf4d
DOI: 10.1016/S0033-3182(89)72242-8
ISSN: 00333182
Cited by: 5
Original Language: English