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

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Abstract
Political instability, civil conflict, war, genocide, persecution, and the attendant violations of human rights are increasingly recognized as paramount public health concerns.1-3 According to the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees, there were approximately 19.2 million refugees, internally displaced persons, and asylum seekers worldwide in 2004.4 Researchers studying these populations have found high levels of violence exposure, often involving multiple traumas, as well as significant mental health problems.5-10 Empirical investigations generally conclude that depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) constitute the most common psychiatric disorders in refugee populations. Inasmuch as depression is a key component of overall disease burden11 and PTSD is a notable contributor to disease burden, especially in countries wracked by violence,12 exposure to mass trauma is a significant source of psychiatric disability worldwide.