Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety among north korean refugees: a meta-analysis

Benjamin Eric Taylor*, Eugene Chekaluk, Joanne Bennett

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    10 Citations (Scopus)
    29 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Objective Post-traumatic stress disorder is common among North Korean refugees who have fled their country for economic, financial and humanitarian reasons. Co-morbid depression and anxiety are also common among North Korean refugees, due to the difficulties they have faced within their country and during their escape journey. Depression and anxiety complicate treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, and lead to poorer outcomes. Thus, the aim of the present study was to provide a meta-analysis of studies investigating post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety among North Korean refugees. Methods Selected articles were published in English, and included measures of post-traumatic stress, and/or depression and anxiety. 10 studies were included in the depression meta-analysis, and 6 in the anxiety meta-analysis. Results A random-effects model revealed strong, significant associations between post-traumatic stress and depression, r=0.63, 95% CI (0.51, 0.72), p<0.001, z=8.33, and anxiety, r=0.51, 95% CI (0.36, 0.63), p<0.001, z=6.07. The relationships between post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety were higher among adults and those with more than five years outside of North Korea. Conclusion Depression appears to be an important treatment focus for North Korean refugees with post-traumatic stress.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)550-561
    Number of pages12
    JournalPsychiatry Investigation
    Volume14
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Sept 2017

    Bibliographical note

    Copyright Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2017. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

    Keywords

    • North Korean refugees
    • post-traumatic stress disorder
    • anxiety
    • depression

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