A large number of refugees from the occupied Kashmir with different psychiatric presentations have reported to a psychiatric clinic in Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. A conjoint study on post-traumatic stress disorder was carried out from September 1991 to September 1996 at the Departments of Psychiatry, Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences and Combined Military Hospital, Muzaffarabad. PTSD was diagnosed on the basis of criteria mentioned in ICD-10. Out of 534 patients reporting in psychiatric clinic 167 had PTSD. Aetiological factors included stress of migration (32.9%), death of family member by atrocities of enforcement agencies (26.9%), emotional and physical torture (22.8%), and destruction of native home, property or livelihood (19.2%). Presenting features included symptoms of anxiety and depression (83.8%), relieving of trauma or intrusive memories (77.8%), emotional blunting / unresponsiveness to surroundings (44.9%) acute bursts of fear, panic or aggression (33.5%) insomnia (26.9%) and suicidal ideation (18%). Response to psychotherapy sessions, behavioural techniques and pharmacotherapy was favourable. The subject needs further study as a significant number of patients (32%) run course of chronic sequelae.

War crimes Stress disorders, Post-traumatic Refugees

male Pakistan female major clinical study stress refugee posttraumatic stress disorder India Article school child human adult Adolescent war