Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Cambodian Refugees in New Zealand

Abstract

The author's objective was to determine the amount of trauma, prevalence and diagnostic features of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and to study the relationship between PTSD and demographic variables, trauma experiences, coping style and post-migration stresses among adult Cambodian refugees in New Zealand. Information on basic sociodemographic data, trauma experiences, posttraumatic stress symptoms, General Health Questionnaire 28-item version (GHQ-28) scores, coping style, and post-migration stresses were gathered from 223 adult Cambodian refugees living in Dunedin, New Zealand. Most subjects had experienced multiple, severe traumas. The prevalence of PTSD was 12.1%. The most frequently reported posttraumatic stress symptom was recurrent intrusive recollection of trauma. There was a significant association between PTSD and amount of trauma, coping style, and post-migration stresses.