American Journal of Psychiatry
Volume 147, Issue 7, 1990, Pages 913-917

The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder and its clinical significance among Southeast Asian refugees (Article)

Kinzie J.D.* , Boehnlein J.K. , Leung P.K. , Moore L.J. , Riley C. , Smith D.
  • a Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health Sciences, University, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97201-3098, United States
  • b Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health Sciences, University, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97201-3098, United States
  • c Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health Sciences, University, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97201-3098, United States
  • d Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health Sciences, University, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97201-3098, United States
  • e Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health Sciences, University, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97201-3098, United States
  • f Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health Sciences, University, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97201-3098, United States

Abstract

All 322 patients at a psychiatric clinic for Indochinese refugees were surveyed to determine the presence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If PTSD was not diagnosed at the time of initial evaluation, a structured reinterview was performed. Seventy percent of the patients (N = 226) met the criteria for a current diagnosis of PTSD, and an additional 5% (N = 15) met the criteria for a past diagnosis. The Mein had the highest rate of PTSD (93%) and the Vietnamese the lowest (54%). Of the patients with PTSD who were enrolled in the clinic before March 1988, 46% (N = 87) were given a diagnosis of PTSD only after the reinterview. PTSD is a common disorder among Indochinese refugees, but the diagnosis is often difficult to make.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

priority journal ethnic or racial aspects major clinical study refugee Article human adult migration posttraumatic stress disorder
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0025354182&doi=10.1176%2fajp.147.7.913&partnerID=40&md5=ee3f9767e69b248fbb895a0a7d9196a2
DOI: 10.1176/ajp.147.7.913
ISSN: 0002953X
Cited by: 244
Original Language: English