Effects of Psychiatric Symptoms on Attention in North Korean Refugees

Lee, Yu Jin; Jun, Jin Yong; Park, Juhyun; Kim, Soohyun; Gwak, Ah Reum; Lee, So Hee; Yoo, So Young; Kim, Seog Ju

doi:10.4306/pi.2016.13.5.480

Cited by 9 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 31 publications

(39 reference statements)

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“…Lee, et al (2016a)Adult NKRs17738.2Insomnia (questionnaire based on ICD-10), Depression (CES-D), PTSD (IES-R)Adult South KoreansY. Lee, et al (2016b)Adult NKRs4535.4Depression (BDI), Anxiety (BAI), PTSD (IES-R), Dissociation (DES-II)Adult South KoreansY. Lee et al (2012)Adolescent NKRs10216.4Emotional and behavioural problems (K-CBCL)Adolescent South KoreansJ.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental health status of North Korean refugees in South Korea and risk and protective factors: a 10-year review of the literature

Lee¹,

Lee²,

Park³

2017

European Journal of Psychotraumatology

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Background: North Korean refugees (NKRs) are often exposed to traumatic events in North Korea and during their defection. Furthermore, they face sociocultural barriers in adapting to the new society to which they have defected. Objective: To integrate previous findings on this mentally vulnerable population, we systematically reviewed articles on the mental health of NKRs in South Korea. Method: We searched for empirical studies conducted in the last 10 years in six online databases (international journals: Embase, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science; Korean journals: DBPIA, KMbase) through June 2017. Only quantitative studies using new empirical data on the mental health of NKRs were included. We summarized the 56 studies ultimately selected in terms of NKRs’ mental health status and three domains of associated factors: pre- and post-settlement factors and personal factors. Results: NKRs had a high prevalence and severity of psychiatric symptoms, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. We identified nine risk factors consistently found in previous studies, including traumatic experience, longer stay periods in third country, forced repatriation, acculturative stress, low income, older age, poor physical health, and female and male sex, as well as four protective factors, including educational level in North Korea, social support, family relationship quality, and resilience. Conclusions: We suggest that future studies focus on the causal interactions between different risk and protective factors and mental health outcomes among NKRs from a longitudinal perspective. Furthermore, comprehensive policies for NKRs’ psychological adaptation are needed, particularly the development of evidence-based mental health interventions.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental health status of North Korean refugees in South Korea and risk and protective factors: a 10-year review of the literature

Lee¹,

Lee²,

Park³

2017

European Journal of Psychotraumatology

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“…PTSD could mediate mental health problems, especially interpersonal trauma [35,36]. However, they observed that trauma exposure, both interpersonal exposure and noninterpersonal exposure, had no direct association with comorbid mental health problems.…”

Section: Ptsd As a Factor Influencing Other Comorbid Mental Health Prmentioning

confidence: 97%

Trauma History and Mental Health of North Korean Defectors

Noh

Lee

2020

Curr Behav Neurosci Rep

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Purpose of Review This study aimed to review the mental health status of North Korean defectors (NKDs) and related factors. Interventions to promote their mental health and issues to be dealt with are also reviewed. Recent Findings NKDs are often exposed to multiple severely traumatic events, both in North Korea and surrounding their defection. Furthermore, they face sociocultural barriers in adapting to a new society. Past exposure to traumatic events, longer defection periods, forced repatriation, psychological factors, and acculturative stress such as perceived discrimination, low income, family violence, and health complaints contribute to negative effects on mental health and obstruct their adaptation to life in the Republic of Korea. Summary It is necessary to develop evidence-based programs to promote NKDs’ mental health and help them to adapt to their new society. An NKD cohort study would be helpful to reveal their long-term mental health prognoses and interactions with pre- and post-migration factors.

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“…7,9,10 Few studies compared mental health among North Korean defectors and the general Korean population using the same evaluation scale. [11][12][13] These studies reported a higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders among North Korean defectors. The prevalence of depression ranged from 33% to 51% using the Korean version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale 11,[14][15][16][17][18][19] and the prevalence of PTSD ranged from 13% to 52% using the post-traumatic diagnostic scale.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[11][12][13] These studies reported a higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders among North Korean defectors. The prevalence of depression ranged from 33% to 51% using the Korean version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale 11,[14][15][16][17][18][19] and the prevalence of PTSD ranged from 13% to 52% using the post-traumatic diagnostic scale. 11,[20][21][22][23][24][25] Studies have yet to evaluate the prevalence using a structured diagnostic tool such as Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The prevalence of depression ranged from 33% to 51% using the Korean version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale 11,[14][15][16][17][18][19] and the prevalence of PTSD ranged from 13% to 52% using the post-traumatic diagnostic scale. 11,[20][21][22][23][24][25] Studies have yet to evaluate the prevalence using a structured diagnostic tool such as Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). 26 In South Korea, the Korean Epidemiologic Catchment Area (KECA) study has been performed every 5 years since 2001 using the Korean version of CIDI by the Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare to determine the prevalence of major mental disorders among Korean adults.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prevalence of DSM-IV Major Psychiatric Disorders among North Korean Defectors in South Korea

Lee

Moon

et al. 2020

Psychiatry Investig

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Objective The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of major psychiatric disorders among North Korean defectors (NKD) settled in South Korea.Methods The study population consisted of 294 North Korean defectors, aged 18 to 64 years settled in South Korea for 3 years or less. Between June 1, 2016 and October 31, 2016, face-to-face interviews were conducted using the North Korean version of the WHO-Composite International Diagnostic Interview (NK-CIDI) to diagnose DSM-IV psychiatric disorders.Results The lifetime prevalence of any DSM-IV psychiatric disorders was 62.2% in NKD and 25.0% in the general Korean population. The prevalence of specific disorders in NKD and general Korean population was as follows: 22.3% and 4.9% for major depressive disorder (MDD), 12.2% and 1.4% for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 18.0% and 4.8% for nicotine dependence, and 14.5% and 11.2% for alcohol abuse. The incidence of every single psychiatric disorder varied in each country. For instance, the generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobia, and alcohol use disorder occurred more frequently in North Korea whereas PTSD was more prevalent in other countries.Conclusion The prevalence of psychiatric disorders among NKD was quite higher than in the general population of South Korea.

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Effects of Psychiatric Symptoms on Attention in North Korean Refugees

Cited by 9 publications

References 31 publications

Mental health status of North Korean refugees in South Korea and risk and protective factors: a 10-year review of the literature

Mental health status of North Korean refugees in South Korea and risk and protective factors: a 10-year review of the literature

Trauma History and Mental Health of North Korean Defectors

Prevalence of DSM-IV Major Psychiatric Disorders among North Korean Defectors in South Korea

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