Rheumatological Disorders and Somatization in U.S. Mien and Lao Refugees with Depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

We report a study comparing presenting symptoms and medical diagnoses of Mien and Lao refugees seen at a specialized psychiatric referral programme in Oregon. Rheumatological assessment in Mien and Lao refugees suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder revealed similar prevalence rates of pain, rheumatologic disorders and somatization despite different initial clinical presentations. Of 89 patients seen in out-patient clinics, 95% had chronic pain, 88% had rheumatological diagnoses and 53% had medically unexplained pain. Although this was a selected sample, our results support the notion that physical pain complaints in psychiatric patients contribute to psychopathology and deserve careful evaluation. Culture strongly affected presentation and this study supports the identification of a Mien Somatic Complaint Syndrome

Anxiety · Family medicine · Medical diagnosis · Psychiatry · Psychopathology · Referral · Refugee · Somatization · Somatization disorder · Clinical Psychology · Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research · Medicine · Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies · Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments

• Somatization" and "Comorbidity

  Open Access•B A Kohrt•Ethos•2005

  Incluir item

• A Syndrome produced by Diverse Nocuous Agents

  Open Access•Hans Selye•Nature•1936

  Incluir item

• Musculosketal Symptoms and Non-REM Sleep Disturbance in Patients with “Fibrositis Syndrome” and Healthy Subjects

  Harvey Moldofsky, Phillip Scarisbrick et al.•Psychosomatic Medicine•1975

  Incluir item

• Psychosocial Factors in Fibromyalgia Compared With Rheumatoid Arthritis

  Edward A Walker, David Keegan et al.•Psychosomatic Medicine•1997

  Incluir item

• Somatic Symptoms Among Older Soviet Immigrants

  Open Access•Robert Kohn, Joseph A Flaherty et al.•International Journal of Social…•1989

  Incluir item

• Health care attitudes and experiences during gynecologic care among lesbians and bisexuals

  E M Smith, Erin Smith et al.•American Journal of Public Health•1985

  Incluir item

• Laos

  Edmond A Blais, Frank M Lebar et al.•Pacific Affairs•1962

  Incluir item

• Thailand--Its People, Its Society, Its Culture

  Andrew Turton, Frank J Moore et al.•Man•1975

  Incluir item