Somatization among refugees: An epidemiologic study
Author(s):
Westermeyer, Joseph; Bouafuely, Mayka; Neider, John; Callies, Allan
Format:
Journal article
Citation:
Psychosomatics: Journal Of Consultation And Liaison Psychiatry, Volume 30, Issue 1 (1989). pp. 34-43.
Language:
English
Abstract:
Notes that some psychological theorists have viewed somatization as an alternative to depression. These and other theories were tested in a population survey of 97 Hmong refugees who had lived in the US for several years. Four different measures of somatization were employed, including a 12-item self-rating scale, a single-item global rating based on the total interview, and somatic subscales of the 2 Hamilton interview-rating scales. Data demonstrate that somatization accompanies certain demographic characteristics that are associated with failure to acculturate. Somatization in this nonpatient, refugee population was associated with treatment seeking and self-identified "medical problems" and with psychiatric symptoms and disorders, but not with objective evidence of medical disorder. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)