A prospective study of psychological distress related to refugee camp experience.

Abstract

Previous reports have suggested a direct relationship between refugee camp experience and levels of psychological distress among refugees. Specifically, it has been postulated that refugee camps with harsh conditions and low levels of social support foster high levels of psychological distress. The present study was designed to assess the relationship between camp conditions and social support within a refugee camp and refugees' levels of psychological distress. Unlike previous reports, which were based on retrospective data, the present study evaluated psychological distress among a group of Vietnamese refugees both prior to departure from Vietnam and during their refugee camp experience. A group of 101 Vietnamese Amerasians was assessed at a transit centre in Vietnam and subsequently at a refugee camp in the Philippines. Assessment instruments were the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 and a Camp Comparison Questionnaire. There were significant decreases in symptom levels of anxiety and depression between the transit centre in Vietnam and the refugee camp in the Philippines. However, these changes were not related to changes in refugee camp conditions or social support within the camp. Contrary to previous reports, levels of psychological distress among this group of Vietnamese refugees were not related to either refugee camp conditions or levels of social support within the camp.