Psychiatric problems in returning travelers : Features and associations

Travelers may return from the tropics with psychological problems. The literature regarding features and associations of these psychological problems is limited. Case histories of 15 consecutive returning travelers seen at our psychiatric service during the last 8 years. The median age of this group...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of travel medicine 2001-09, Vol.8 (5), p.243-246
Main Authors: BENY, Ahuva, PAZ, Alona, POTASMAN, Israel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Asia
Biological and medical sciences
Female
Humans
Kenya
Male
Medical sciences
Mental Disorders - diagnosis
Middle Aged
Miscellaneous
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
South America
Travel
Tropical medicine
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Summary:Travelers may return from the tropics with psychological problems. The literature regarding features and associations of these psychological problems is limited. Case histories of 15 consecutive returning travelers seen at our psychiatric service during the last 8 years. The median age of this group was 25 years, 10 were males, and the length of trip ranged from 10 days to 8.5 months. None of these travelers had prior psychopathology. The most common presentation was anxiety (with or without depression, n = 11), 3 suffered from acute psychosis, and 1 had pure depression. Eight of the travelers have used illicit drugs, which in 5 cases probably served as a trigger. Antimalarials may have played a role in 3 travelers. Six travelers needed antidepressants and supportive therapy, 3 neuroleptics, and 1 psychotherapy. These treatments lasted for 6 months and over in 6 of the travelers. Psychiatric problems among travelers to the tropics are multifarious in nature, multifactorial, have a strong relation to drug abuse, and may require a long and intensive therapy. Travelers should be better educated about the risks of using illicit drugs.
ISSN:1195-1982
1708-8305
DOI:10.2310/7060.2001.24019