Profiling the trauma related symptoms of Bosnian refugees who have not sought mental health services

The objective of this study was to profile trauma related psychiatric sympt oms in a group of refugees not seeking mental health services and to consid er the services implications. The study involved research assessments of tw o groups of Bosnian refugees: those who have not presented for mental healt h services and those who have. A total of 28 of 41 nonpresenters (70%) met symptom criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis. AU ser vice presenters (N = 29) met symptom criteria for PTSD diagnosis. The group that did not present for services reported substantial but lower trauma ex posure, PTSD symptom severity, and depression symptom severity. They had si gnificant differences on all subscales of the MOS SF-36, indicating better health status. We concluded that those who do not seek services have substa ntial symptom levels, but their self-concept appears to be less oriented to ward illness and help seeking. Innovative access, engagement, and preventiv e interventions are needed to address those who have symptoms but do not re adily seek help for trauma mental health services.