Acculturation, psychiatric comorbidity and posttraumatic stress disorder in a Taiwanese aboriginal population

Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2009 Jan;44(1):55-62. doi: 10.1007/s00127-008-0405-2. Epub 2008 Jul 11.

Abstract

Background: This study investigates acculturation and other antecedent psychiatric and socio-environmental risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in one aboriginal group (the Bunun) exposed to an earthquake disaster in Taiwan.

Method: Respondents (n = 196) were assessed 5 months after the disaster, using a Chinese version of the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry and the Taiwan Aboriginal Acculturation Scale.

Result: Four risk factors exerted independent effect on the risk of PTSD, including magnitude of the earthquake, subsequent traumas, antecedent major depressive disorder and acculturation status.

Conclusion: Public mental health programs need to consider the liability to PTSD in populations with different ethnicity and socio-cultural environments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acculturation*
  • Adult
  • Asian People / psychology*
  • Comorbidity
  • Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry)
  • Disasters
  • Earthquakes
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Risk Factors
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / diagnosis
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / epidemiology*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Taiwan / epidemiology