Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

The Medical Center for Refugees in Linküping, Sweden, includes a medical ward for refugees and asylum applicants. It was started in January, 1986 and is financed by the Swedish Immigration Board. Sixty percent of the patients are war-wounded and 40% have diagnoses non-related to war. This article describes a group of 19 refugees who were the war-wounded patients at this ward in June, 1986. In most of them the main medical impairment was amputation. They were followed up in 1988 by interview and self-ratings. The aim was to illuminate their quality of life after 2–3 years in Sweden. Most of them were satisfied with their external living conditions. Their psychological well-being, however, was not so good and they were very occupied by thoughts of their native countries. Their physical handicaps seemed to be of secondary importance.

Keywords

refugees war-wounded handicap quality of life well-being

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

1. Eitinger L . Psychological consequences of war disturbances. In: Helping victims of violence. Proceedings of a working group on the psychosocial consequences of violence. Ministry of Welfare, Health and Cultural Affairs, Government publishing office. The Hague. 1983: 47–56.

2. Helweg-Larsen P , Hoffmeyer H , Kieler J et al. Famine disease in German concentration camps. Complications and sequels. Acta Psychiatr Neurol Scand. 1952; Suppl. 83.

3. Strom A , ed. Norwegian concentration camp survivors. Oslo: Universitetsforlaget, 1968.

4. Sondergaard HP . Sequelae after extreme stress – one aspect of refugee psychiatry. (In Swedish). Lakartidningen 1988; 85: 539–42.

5. Genefke IK , Aalund O . Morbidity spectrum amongst torture victims. Acta Neurol Scand 1982; Suppl 65.

6. Goldfeld AE , Mollica RF , Pesavento BH , Faraone SV . The physical and psychological sequelae of torture. Symptomatology and diagnosis. JAMA 1988; 259: 2725–9.

7. Hauff E . Assessment of mental health in refugee populations. In: Health hazards of organized violence. Proceedings of a working group on health hazards of organized violence. Ministry of Welfare, Health and Cultural Affairs. Rijswijk 1986: 101–15.

8. Mollica RF , Wyshak G , Lavelle J . The psychosocial impact of war trauma and torture on southeast Asian refugees. Am J Psychiatry 1987; 10: 1567–72.

9. Rasmussen OV , Lunde I . Evaluation of investigation of 200 torture victims. Dan Med Bulletin 1980; 241–3.

10.

10. Thorvaldsen P . Health hazards of organized violence. In: Health hazards of organized violence. Proceedings of a working group on health hazards of organized violence. Ministry of Welfare, Health and Cultural Affairs, Rijswijk 1986: 18–49.

11.

11. A preliminary study of disabled immigrants, refugees and asylum aplicants. (in Swedish). Report. The National Council for the Disabled Stockholm 1988.

12.

12. Hörnquist JO . The concept of quality of life. Scand J Soc Med 1982; 10: 57–61.

13.

13. Lundberg S. Refugee status. Latin American exile in Sweden and Western Europe. Doctoral thesis. (In Swedish, English summary). Lund: Arkiv avhandlingsserie, 1989.

14.

14. Thorvaldsen P. Consequences of torture in Latin American refugees in Denmark. Doctoral thesis. (In Danish, English summary). Kobenhavn: Laegerforeningens forlag, 1986.

War-Wounded Refugees

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References