Veel psychiatrische stoornissen bij Afghaanse vluchtelingen met verblijfsstatus in Drenthe, met name depressieve stoornis en posttraumatische stressstoornis

To assess the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and help-seeking behaviour of Afghan refugees with a residence status in the province of Drenthe, the Netherlands.

Design

Cross-sectional prevalence study.

Method

By means of a modified multiflex snowball sampling with 3 primary informants, 55 Afghan households in 16 towns and villages in Drenthe were selected. After informed consent had been obtained, 51 adults completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and a culturally validated shortened ‘Composite international diagnostic interview’ (CIDI), DSM-IV version. Help-seeking behaviour was recorded.

Results

Half of the sample had resided in the Netherlands for at least 3 years. There was a high level of education, an unemployment level of 88 and moderate to poor language skills in 92 of the respondents. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was 65 (95 CI: 52-78); depressive disorder occurred in 57 and posttraumatic stress disorder in 35. Psychopathological findings were related to poor language skills, a lower level of education and unemployment. A total of 56 received treatment from a general practitioner and 4 were under psychiatric treatment.

Conclusions

The prevalence of psychiatric disorders among adult Afghan refugees in Drenthe with a residence status was considerably higher than among the general population in the Netherlands.