A hundred adolescents /fifty refugees and fifty non-refugees/ were compared in terms of their answers to a special questionnaire and the results of the Hanes test. The results show significant differences in relation to the loss of close family members during the war. The attitude of adolescent refugees to learning becomes negative in many cases. A significant number, in comparison to non-refugees feel changes in their behaviour, interests and confidence. Very often their answers are: 'I have grown up too quickly; I Have no fun, 'I'm sad...' There is no difference in answers relating to the situation in the country and those who are responsible for this war. Refugees and non-refugees express their feelings very courageously. The behaviour and confidence of refugees also change significantly. The second part of the research refers to the application of the Hanes test of neuroticism. The difference is significant between refugees and non-refugees. Refugees have a significantly higher degree of neuroticism and non-refugees have a significant degree of extroversion. The results show changes in adolescents who did not come to the Institute of mental health for help but they have problems which show in their manner of thinking their relation to learning, expression and motivation. The authors think that it is necessary to prevent psychic decompensation by organizing preventive work. That is the aim of this study.

Psychological problems Emotional problems Adolescent child War

controlled study major clinical study refugee Yugoslavia affective neurosis Article human Adolescent