Objective: To investigate the association between life situation factors and post-traumatic symptoms among refugees from the former Yugoslavia. Method: Twenty-six refugees from the former Yugoslavia were examined by the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire during psychiatric treatment, and 3 years later. At follow-up they also answered a questionnaire regarding their life situations. Results: A higher post-traumatic symptom level at follow-up was associated with a pattern of negative living conditions such as open unemployment, social isolation, and a high dependence on social welfare. Gender differences were found regarding the factors most related to symptom severity. Conclusion: The results indicate that a main problem in this patient group may be how to break vicious circles of high symptom levels and a poor life situation which suggests a need for integrated rehabilitation efforts.

Sex differences Refugees PTSD Former Yugoslavia rehabilitation

symptomatology unemployment refugee Follow-Up Studies human social isolation Refugees sex difference priority journal Yugoslavia Sweden Humans male female questionnaire Yugoslavia (pre-1992) social welfare clinical article Article life Questionnaires adult posttraumatic stress disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic disease severity