Psychiatric care of refugees exposed to organized violence. A comparative study of refugees and immigrants in Frederiksborg County, Denmark.

Psychiatry in Scandinavia has a tradition for research and clinical work with people from other countries, especially related to refugees and survivors after the Second World War. In recent years an increasing number of refugees have arrived, especially from the countries of the Middle East. The aim of this study was to evaluate the refugee situation in a Danish county, on the basis of data on 49 refugees treated in the county's psychiatric departments from January 1, 1986 to December 31, 1987 and 44 immigrants seen from January 1, 1983 to December 31, 1987. The clinical data illustrated marked differences between immigrants and refugees with respect to social situation and background, symptom pattern and exposure to organized violence. Both groups terminated treatment after very few contacts, and the psychiatric staff seems to need better training. The general need for psychiatric and psychological treatment of immigrants and refugees is still uncertain and further research is required.