A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS RELATED TO REFUGEE CAMPEXPERIENCE

Objective: Previous reports have suggested a direct relationship betwe en 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 th e relationship between camp conditions and social support within a ref ugee camp and refugees' levels of psychological distress. Unlike previ ous 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 ex perience. Method: 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 Checklis t-25 and a Camp Comparison Questionnaire. Results: There were signific ant decreases in symptom levels of anxiety and depression between the transit centre in Vietnam and the refugee camp in the Philippines Howe ver, these changes were not related to changes in refugee camp conditi ons or social support within the camp. Conclusions: Contrary to previo us reports, levels of psychological distress among this group of Vietn amese refugees were not related to either refugee camp conditions or l evels of social support within the camp.