Mental Health of Cambodian Refugees 2 Decades After Resettlement in the United States

摘要: ContextLittle is known about the long-term mental health of trauma-exposed refugees years after permanent resettlement in host countries.ObjectiveTo assess prevalence, comorbidity, and correlates psychiatric disorders US Cambodian refugee community.Design, Setting, ParticipantsA cross-sectional, face-to-face interview conducted Khmer language on a random sample households from community Long Beach, Calif, largest such United States, between October 2003 and February 2005. A total 586 adults aged 35 to 75 who lived in Cambodia during Rouge reign immigrated States prior 1993 were selected. One eligible individual was randomly sampled from each household, with an overall response rate (eligibility screening and interview) 87% (n = 490).Main Outcome MeasuresExposure trauma violence before immigration (using the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire Survey Exposure Community Violence); weighted past-year prevalence rates posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression (using Composite International Diagnostic Interview version 2.1); alcohol use (by Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test).ResultsAll participants had been exposed immigration. Ninety-nine percent (n = 483) experienced near-death due starvation 90% (n = 437) family member or friend murdered. Seventy percent (n = 338) reported exposure settlement the United States. High PTSD (62%, weighted), (51%, weighted), low found (4%, weighted). PTSD highly comorbid this population (n = 209; 42%, weighted) showed strong dose-response relationship measures of traumatic exposure. In bivariate analyses, older age, having poor English-speaking proficiency, unemployment, being retired disabled, living poverty were also associated higher depression. Following multivariate premigration remained (odds ratio [OR], 2.08; 95% CI, 1.37-3.16) (OR, 1.56; CI, 1.24-1.97); postmigration 1.65; 1.21-2.26) and major 1.45; 1.12-1.86); age (OR, 1.76; 1.46-2.13) 1.47; 1.15-1.89).ConclusionMore than 2 decades have passed since end civil war subsequent refugees States; however, this continues high psychiatric disorders associated with trauma.