The authors evaluated changes in symptoms and levels of perceived
distress of 21 Cambodian, 13 Hmong/Laotian, and 18 Vietnamese patients
before and after a 6-month treatment period. Most of the patients improved
significantly. Cambodians had the greatest and Hmong/Laotians had the least
reductions in depressive symptoms. Although psychological symptoms
improved, many somatic symptoms worsened. The authors conclude that refugee
survivors of multiple traumata and torture can be aided by psychiatric
care. They recommend investigations with larger samples and suitable
control groups to further clarify the relative contributions of trauma,
diagnosis, and acculturation stress to treatment outcome.
Abstract Teaser