Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.24986/anxmod.2018.14.2.80

Clinical Characteristics of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among North Korean Defectors  

Lee, Kyoung Eun (Department of Psychiatry, Sungkyunkwan University, School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center)
An, Ji Hyun (Department of Psychiatry, Sungkyunkwan University, School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center)
Kim, Da Eun (Department of Psychiatry, Sungkyunkwan University, School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center)
Moon, Carloyn Seungyoun (Department of Psychiatry, Sungkyunkwan University, School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center)
Hong, Jin Pyo (Department of Psychiatry, Sungkyunkwan University, School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center)
Publication Information
Anxiety and mood / v.14, no.2, 2018 , pp. 80-87 More about this Journal
Abstract
Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate prevalence and clinical characteristics of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in North Korean defectors (NKD). Methods : The study population consisted of 300 NKDs registered in the multi-regional adaptation center (Hana Center), within three years of settling in South Korea. We conducted in-person interviews and a survey with each subject, based on the North Korean version of the WHO-Composite International Diagnostic Interview (NK-CIDI) and various clinical scales. Results : Lifetime prevalence of PTSD in NKDs was 15.3%, approximately nine times higher than South Koreans (1.7%). Although experiencing broader type of traumas with higher rate than South Koreans, NKDs revealed lower odds of PTSD in most type of trauma (p<0.05). Conclusion : NKDs are at higher risk of experiencing different types of trauma than the general population in South Korea, and it is further validated that prevalence of PTSD is also higher. Careful evaluation for comorbid psychiatric symptoms and type of traumas prior to PTSD treatment for NKDs is necessary to facilitate more appropriate intervention for each subject, according to personal experience.
Keywords
North Korean defectors; Prevalence; Post-traumatic stress disorder;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 1  (Citation Analysis)
연도 인용수 순위
1 Lee Y, Lee M, Park S. Mental health status of North Korean refugees in South Korea and risk and protective factors: a 10-year review of the literature. European Journal of Psychotraumatology 2017;8:1369833.   DOI
2 Hong CH, Jeon WT, Lee CH, Kim DK, Han M, Min SK. Relationship between Traumatic Events and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder among North Korean Refugees. J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc 2005;44:714-720.
3 Robins LN, Wing J, Wittchen HU, Helzer JE, Babor TF, Burke J, et al. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview. An epidemiologic Instrument suitable for use in conjunction with different diagnostic systems and in different cultures. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1988;45:1069-1077.   DOI
4 Lee T, Ahn M-H, Jun JY, Han JM, Lee SH, Hahm B-J, et al. Development of North Korean Version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2015;54:228.   DOI
5 Radloff LS. The CES-D Scale. Applied Psychological Measurement 1977;1:385-401.   DOI
6 Cho MJ, Kim KH. Diagnostic validity of the CES-D (Korean Version) in the assessment of DSM-III-R major depression. J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc 1993;32:381-399.
7 Park SJ, Lee SH, Jun JY, Lee TY, Han JM, Ahn MH, et al. Reliability and Validity of the North Korean Version of Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-NK) Anxiety and Mood 2015;11:54-60.
8 Kim H, Lee SH, Jun JY, Lee TY, Han JM, Ahn MH, et al. Reliability and Validity of Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-North Korean version (AUDIT-NK ). Journal of Korean Academy of Addiction Psychiatry 2016;20:68-73.
9 Kim Y, Jeon W, Cho Y. A Study on the Prevalence and the Influencing Factors of the Mental Health Problems Among Recent Migrant North Koreans: A Focus on 2007 Entrants. Unification Policy Research 2010;19:141-174.
10 Kim JS, Oh MK, Park BK, Lee MK, Kim GJ. Screening criteria of alcoholism by alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) in Korea. J Korean Acad Fam Med 1999;20:1152-1159.
11 Eun HJ, Kwon TW, Lee SM, Kim TH, Choi MR, Cho SJ. A Study on Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of Impact of Event Scale-Revised. Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2005;44:303-310.
12 Weiss DS. The Impact of Event Scale: Reviseded). In: Wilson JP, Tang CS-k, editors. Cross-Cultural Assessment of Psychological Trauma and PTSD. Boston, MA: Springer US;2007, p.219-238.
13 Horowitz M, Wilner N, Alvarez W. Impact of Event Scale: a measure of subjective stress. Psychosom Med 1979;41:209-218.   DOI
14 Won S-D, Lee SH, Hong JP, Jun JY, Han JM, Shin MN, et al. A Study on Reliability and Validity of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised-North Korea (IES-R-NK). J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc 2015;54:97-104.   DOI
15 Blake DD, Weathers FW, Nagy LM, Kaloupek DG, Gusman FD, Charney DS, et al. The development of a Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale. J Trauma Stress 1995;8:75-90.   DOI
16 Kim OS. Korean Version of the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale:Reliability and Validity Test. J Nurs Acad Soc 1997;27:871-879.   DOI
17 Connor KM, Davidson JR. Development of a new resilience scale:the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Depress Anxiety 2003;18:76-82.   DOI
18 Baek HS, Lee KU, Joo EJ, Lee MY, Choi KS. Reliability and Validity of the Korean Versionof the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Psychiatry Investigation 2010;7:109-115.   DOI
19 Department of Health and Welfare. The survey of mental disorders in Korea 2016. Department of Health and Welfare;2016.
20 Fazel M, Wheeler J, Danesh J. Prevalence of serious mental disorder in 7000 refugees resettled in western countries: a systematic review. Lancet 2005;365:1309-1314.   DOI
21 Kim SR. Development of trauma scale for North Korean refugee. Seoul: Department of Psychology, the Graduate School Yonsei University 2000.
22 Kim S, Kim H, Kim J, Cho S, Lee Y. Relationship between Physical Illness and Depression in North Korean Defectors. Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine 2011;19:20-27.
23 Jeon B-H, Kim M-D, Hong S-C, Kim N-R, Lee C-I, Kwak Y-S, et al. Prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among North Korean defectors living in South Korea for more than one year. Psychiatry Investigation 2009;6:122-130.   DOI
24 Kim H. Difference on Complex PTSD and PTSD symptoms according to types of traumatic events in North Korean Refugees. Korean Journal of Counseling and Psychotherapy 2012;31:1003-1022.
25 Seo YS, Cho HC, Ahn HY, Lee JS. Traumatic Events Experienced by South Koreans: Types and Prevalence. The Korean Journal of Counseling and Psychotherapy 2012;24:671-701.
26 Sack WH, Seeley JR, Clarke GN. Does PTSD Transcend Cultural Barriers? A Study From the Khmer Adolescent Refugee Project. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 1997;36:49-54.   DOI
27 Hollifield M, Warner TD, Lian N, Krakow B, Jenkins JH, Kesler J, et al. Measuring trauma and health status in refugees: a critical review. JAMA 2002;288:611-621.   DOI
28 Unification Ministry of Korea. North Korean Defectors Government Policy. Seoul: Unification Ministry of Korea, Department of Settlement Support;2018.
29 Jeon WT. Review of adaptation and mental health of refugees and perspectives and counterplots in Korean reunification process. Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 1997;36:3-18.
30 Ju JN, Young LW, Seok NM, Yip PSF. The impact of indiscriminate media coverage of a celebrity suicide on a society with a high suicide rate: Epidemiological findings on copycat suicides from South Korea. Journal of Affective Disorders;156:56-61.
31 Kinzie JD, Boehnlein JK, Leung PK, Moore LJ, Riley C, Smith D. The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder and its clinical significance among Southeast Asian refugees. Am J Psychiatry 1990;147:913-917.   DOI
32 Lee Y, Lee MK, Chun KH, Lee YK, Yoon SJ. Trauma experience of North Korean refugees in China. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2001;20:225-229.   DOI