DSM-III psychiatric disorders among Hmong refugees in the United States: a point prevalence study

The author reports on a survey of 97 Hmong adult refugees in the United States. Thirty of these refugees showed symptoms of chronic maladjustment, and 13 showed another DSM-III axis I disorder; two manifested a paranoid psychosis, and six had a major depression. There were few axis II diagnoses. Medical conditions were frequent and often psychophysiological in nature, but they were not associated with axis I disorders. Axis IV psychosocial stressors were not associated with axis I diagnoses, but subjects with an axis I disorder tended to show lower adaptive levels on axis V. The demographic condition most strongly associated with an axis I diagnosis was current status as a welfare recipient.