Alcoholism
Volume 38, Issue 1-2, 2002, Pages 35-40

Posttraumatic stress disorder, alcohol dependence, and somatic disorders in displaced persons (Article)

Buljan D.* , Vrček D. , Cekić-Arambašin A. , Karlović D. , Zoričić Z. , Golik-Gruber V.
  • a Department of Psychiatry, Sestre Milosrdnice Univ. Hospital, Vinogradska c. 29, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • b Department of Psychiatry, Sestre Milosrdnice Univ. Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
  • c Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Zagreb, Croatia
  • d Department of Psychiatry, Sestre Milosrdnice Univ. Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
  • e Department of Psychiatry, Sestre Milosrdnice Univ. Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
  • f Department of Psychiatry, Sestre Milosrdnice Univ. Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), comorbid alcohol dependence and somatic disorders in displaced persons. For that reason we investigated a group of displaced persons using the structured clinical interview based on DSM IV criteria, and Los Angeles Check List (LASC). We also performed a complete medical examination of the whole sample. Our results are concordant with other studies, showing that 50% of displaced persons and refugees have symptoms of PTSD, 43% have alcohol dependence and many of them have poor general medical status. This research shows that war trauma may have a role in development of alcohol dependence and many of medical problems in subjects with current PTSD.

Author Keywords

displaced persons Stress disorder Comorbidity Somatic diseases War Refugees Alcohol dependence Post-traumatic

Index Keywords

clinical examination male controlled study female major clinical study battle injury alcoholism psychosomatic disorder symptom prevalence Article interview correlation analysis human adult comorbidity posttraumatic stress disorder
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0036992303&partnerID=40&md5=4a5182bbadb628c4b55402ed5e54174d
ISSN: 0002502X
Cited by: 6
Original Language: English