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Psychiatric Disorders Among Tortured Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal

van Ommeren, Mark ; de Jong, J. T. ; Sharma, Bhogendra ; Komproe, Ivan H ; Bahadur Thapa, Suraj and Cardeña, Etzel LU orcid (2001) In Archives of General Psychiatry 58(5). p.475-482
Abstract
The impact of torture on the distribution of psychiatric disorders among refugees is unknown.
We surveyed a population-based sample of 418 tortured and 392 nontortured Bhutanese refugees living in camps in Nepal. Trained interviewers assessed International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) disorders through structured diagnostic psychiatric interviews.
Except for male sex, history of torture was not associated with demographics. Tortured refugees, compared with nontortured refugees, were more likely to report 12-month ICD-10 posttraumatic stress disorder, persistent somatoform pain disorder, and dissociative (amnesia and conversion) disorders. In addition, tortured refugees were more likely to report lifetime... (More)
The impact of torture on the distribution of psychiatric disorders among refugees is unknown.
We surveyed a population-based sample of 418 tortured and 392 nontortured Bhutanese refugees living in camps in Nepal. Trained interviewers assessed International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) disorders through structured diagnostic psychiatric interviews.
Except for male sex, history of torture was not associated with demographics. Tortured refugees, compared with nontortured refugees, were more likely to report 12-month ICD-10 posttraumatic stress disorder, persistent somatoform pain disorder, and dissociative (amnesia and conversion) disorders. In addition, tortured refugees were more likely to report lifetime posttraumatic stress disorder, persistent somatoform pain disorder, affective disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and dissociative (amnesia and conversion) disorders. Tortured women, compared with tortured men, were more likely to report lifetime generalized anxiety disorder, persistent somatoform pain disorder, affective disorder, and dissociative (amnesia and conversion) disorders.
Among Bhutanese refugees, the survivors had higher lifetime and 12-month rates of ICD-10 psychiatric disorder. Men were more likely to report torture, but tortured women were more likely to report certain disorders. The results indicate the increased need for attention to the mental health of refugees, specifically posttraumatic stress disorder, persistent somatoform pain disorder, and dissociative (amnesia and conversion) disorders among those reporting torture. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
trauma, torture, Bhutan, psychopathology
in
Archives of General Psychiatry
volume
58
issue
5
pages
475 - 482
publisher
American Medical Association
external identifiers
  • scopus:0035022333
ISSN
0003-990X
DOI
10.1001/archpsyc.58.5.475
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7ac5f390-696d-45bc-9016-b9f7e82a8ba5
date added to LUP
2017-01-08 09:41:38
date last changed
2022-04-24 20:40:12
@article{7ac5f390-696d-45bc-9016-b9f7e82a8ba5,
  abstract     = {{The impact of torture on the distribution of psychiatric disorders among refugees is unknown.<br/>We surveyed a population-based sample of 418 tortured and 392 nontortured Bhutanese refugees living in camps in Nepal. Trained interviewers assessed International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) disorders through structured diagnostic psychiatric interviews.<br/>Except for male sex, history of torture was not associated with demographics. Tortured refugees, compared with nontortured refugees, were more likely to report 12-month ICD-10 posttraumatic stress disorder, persistent somatoform pain disorder, and dissociative (amnesia and conversion) disorders. In addition, tortured refugees were more likely to report lifetime posttraumatic stress disorder, persistent somatoform pain disorder, affective disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and dissociative (amnesia and conversion) disorders. Tortured women, compared with tortured men, were more likely to report lifetime generalized anxiety disorder, persistent somatoform pain disorder, affective disorder, and dissociative (amnesia and conversion) disorders.<br/>Among Bhutanese refugees, the survivors had higher lifetime and 12-month rates of ICD-10 psychiatric disorder. Men were more likely to report torture, but tortured women were more likely to report certain disorders. The results indicate the increased need for attention to the mental health of refugees, specifically posttraumatic stress disorder, persistent somatoform pain disorder, and dissociative (amnesia and conversion) disorders among those reporting torture.}},
  author       = {{van Ommeren, Mark and de Jong, J. T. and Sharma, Bhogendra and Komproe, Ivan H and Bahadur Thapa, Suraj and Cardeña, Etzel}},
  issn         = {{0003-990X}},
  keywords     = {{trauma; torture; Bhutan; psychopathology}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{475--482}},
  publisher    = {{American Medical Association}},
  series       = {{Archives of General Psychiatry}},
  title        = {{Psychiatric Disorders Among Tortured Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.58.5.475}},
  doi          = {{10.1001/archpsyc.58.5.475}},
  volume       = {{58}},
  year         = {{2001}},
}