Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Volume 32, Issue 2, 1993, Pages 431-437

A 6-Year Follow-up Study of Cambodian Refugee Adolescents Traumatized as Children (Article)

SACK W.H.* , CLARKE G. , HIM C. , DICKASON D. , GOFF B. , LANHAM K. , KINZIE J.D.
  • a [Affiliation not available]
  • b [Affiliation not available]
  • c [Affiliation not available]
  • d [Affiliation not available]
  • e [Affiliation not available]
  • f [Affiliation not available]
  • g [Affiliation not available]

Abstract

Seventy-three percent of a sample of 46 Cambodian youth interviewed in 1984 and 1987 were reinterviewed in 1990 as part of a pretest for a multisite study of Cambodian refugee trauma now under way. An additional sample of convenience of 38 youth were also interviewed to determine reliability and validity of the diagnostic instruments chosen for the larger study. The DSM-III-R diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was found to persist, but the symptoms appeared less intense over time. In contrast, the prevalence of depression dropped markedly since 1987. Subjects remained largely free of comorbid conditions. Diagnostic reliability and validity were satisfactory. The follow-up sample appeared to be functioning well despite their PTSD profiles. The findings are discussed in light of several current controversies surrounding the concept and measurement of PTSD. © 1993, The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

PTSD Refugees Adolescence trauma

Index Keywords

rating scale depression refugee Cambodia Follow-Up Studies follow up human Life Change Events Refugees sample geographic distribution morbidity Depressive Disorder interview United States Adolescent diagnostic value Asian Americans male Personality Development female reliability juvenile clinical article prevalence Article Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. adult posttraumatic stress disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic time
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0027523510&doi=10.1097%2f00004583-199303000-00027&partnerID=40&md5=b87885dad0efcf1c71fddd568ffd2c1b
DOI: 10.1097/00004583-199303000-00027
ISSN: 08908567
Cited by: 157
Original Language: English