Organized violence and mental health of refugee children in exile: a six-year follow-up

In an earlier study we described a high rate of poor mental health in 63 re fugee children from Chile and the Middle East during the first 18 mo of exi le. In this follow-up study the mental health of 49 of these children is de scribed in parent, teacher and child interviews 6-7 y after settlement in S weden. The level of poor mental health in parent interviews has improved fr om 47% 18 mo after settlement to 22% (p < 0.01 in paired t-test) at follow- up. Conclusions: Eighteen percent of 34 children still in primary school were j udged by their teacher show deviant behaviour in the classroom. Three child ren were found to suffer from either reexperience or avoidance of painful m emories, whereas only one neurologically impaired child fulfilled the crite ria of PTSD according to DSM-IV. Recent stress in the family sphere and exp osure to acts of organized violence in the country of origin are identified as the major determinants of poor mental health.