American Journal of Psychiatry
Volume 152, Issue 4, 1995, Pages 536-542

Psychiatric consequences of 'ethnic cleansing': Clinical assessments and trauma testimonies of newly resettled Bosnian refugees (Article)

Weine S.M.* , Becker D.F. , McGlashan T.H. , Laub D. , Lazrove S. , Vojvoda D. , Hyman L.
  • a Project on Genocide, Chicago Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois, 1601 West Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60612, United States
  • b Project on Genocide, Chicago Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois, 1601 West Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60612, United States
  • c Project on Genocide, Chicago Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois, 1601 West Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60612, United States
  • d Project on Genocide, Chicago Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois, 1601 West Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60612, United States
  • e Project on Genocide, Chicago Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois, 1601 West Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60612, United States
  • f Project on Genocide, Chicago Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois, 1601 West Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60612, United States
  • g Project on Genocide, Chicago Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois, 1601 West Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60612, United States

Abstract

Objective: The authors describe the psychiatric assessments and trauma testimonies of 20 Bosnian refugees of 'ethnic cleansing' who have recently resettled in the United States. Method: Refugees referred from agencies managing refugee resettlement underwent systematic, trauma-focused, clinical interviews that included standardized assessment scales. Results: The traumatic experiences of ethnic cleansing in these Bosnian refugees were genocidal in nature. The number of types of traumatic experiences correlated positively with age. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was diagnosed in 65% of the refugees, and depressive disorders in 35%. PTSD severity scores were correlated with the number of types of traumatic events experienced. Conclusions: Ethnic cleansing has caused high rates of PTSD and depression, as well as other forms of psychological morbidity, in this group of resettled Bosnian refugees. The longitudinal sequelae of ethnic cleansing as a form of massive psychic trauma remain to be studied.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

symptomatology depression refugee human war ethnic group mental stress priority journal Yugoslavia dysthymia panic interview Adolescent male female clinical article Article adult posttraumatic stress disorder destruction disease severity
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0028902848&doi=10.1176%2fajp.152.4.536&partnerID=40&md5=d7ce872b6ddc67725b18e9e734b367d5
DOI: 10.1176/ajp.152.4.536
ISSN: 0002953X
Cited by: 147
Original Language: English