Predictors of PTSD among North Korean Defectors Visited Psychiatric Department of North Korean Defectors Treatment Center

Na Young Han; So Hee Lee; So Young Yoo; Seog Ju Kim; Jin Yong Jun; Sung Doo Won; Mi Nyeo Shin

doi:10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.1.105

Journal List > J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc > v.54(1) > 1017720

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Han, Lee, Yoo, Kim, Jun, Won, and Shin: Predictors of PTSD among North Korean Defectors Visited Psychiatric Department of North Korean Defectors Treatment Center

Original Article

Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2015; 54(1): 105-111.

Published online: 28 February 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.1.105

Predictors of PTSD among North Korean Defectors Visited Psychiatric Department of North Korean Defectors Treatment Center

Na Young Han, MD¹, So Hee Lee, MD, PhD¹, So Young Yoo, MD, PhD¹, Seog Ju Kim, MD, PhD², Jin Yong Jun, MD³, Sung Doo Won, MA⁴, Mi Nyeo Shin, PhD⁵

¹Department of Psychiatry, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

²Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

³Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

⁴Department of Psychiatry, Keyo Hospital, Uiwang, Korea.

⁵Saejowi, Seoul, Korea.

Address for correspondence: So Hee Lee, MD, PhD. Department of Psychiatry, National Medical Center, 245 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul 100-799, Korea. Tel +82-2-2260-7311, Fax +82-2-2268-5028, psyhee@hanmail.net

Received 29 May 2014 Revised 10 July 2014 Accepted 4 December 2014

Abstract

Objectives

This study was conducted to evaluate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the quality of life and social adjustment of North Korean refugees who consulted psychiatric clinics.

Methods

A total of 66 North Korean refugees who consulted a psychiatric clinic were included in the analysis. A psychiatrist conducted interviews with the subjects, and PTSD was diagnosed using the clinician-administered PTSD Scale. The quality of life of the subjects was evaluated using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale.

Results

Thirty five (53%) were diagnosed with PTSD. Quality of life was found to show association with understanding the language in South Korea, difficulty interacting with South Koreans, and experience or feeling of neglect. Quality of life of the PTSD group was lower than in the Non-PTSD group. Difficulty adapting to South Korean society was also higher in the PTSD group. Experience or feeling of neglect was negatively correlated with the quality of life in the PTSD group.

Conclusion

The results of this study may be helpful in providing a specific direction for psychiatric intervention strategies to improve overall quality of life and adaptation to life in South Korea.

Keywords: North Korean defectors, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Quality of life, Adjustment in South Korea, Refugee mental health

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Demographic characteristics of the subjects (n=66)

n : Number of subjects, NK : North Korea, PTSD : Post-traumatic stress disorder, SES : Socio-economic state, SK : South Korea

Table 2

Correlations among demographic data, difficulty of adjustment, and quality of life in North Korean defectors (n=66)

Maladjustment=summation of language, interaction, and neglect scores. ^* : p<0.05, ^† : p<0.001, ^‡ : Spearman's rho. n : Number of subjects, NK : North Korea, QOL : Quality of life, SES : Socio-economic state

Table 3

Group difference of quality of life and difficulty of adjustment among North Korean defectors

^* : Equal variance not assumed. PTSD : Post-traumatic stress disorder, QOL : Quality of life

Table 4

Correlations among demographic data, difficulty of adjustment, and quality of life in North Korean defectors with PTSD (n=35)

Maladjustment=summation of language, interaction, and neglect scores. ^*p<0.05, ^†p<0.001. n : Number of subjects, PTSD : Post-traumatic stress disorder, SES : Socio-economic state, NK : North Korea, QOL : Quality of Life

Notes

The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

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