An unusual clinical presentation of posttraumatic stress disorder in a Sudanese refugee

Some anxiety disorders may present with signs and symptoms that may linger many years after the stress-inducer events and threat has passed. A case of posttraumatic stress disorder is presented in this report of a Sudanese refugee presenting with chronic abdominal and lower back pain. PTSD in refugees may present with typical or atypical manifestations such as chronic pain syndromes. Therefore, the identification by medical providers of the spectrum of signs and symptoms compatible with PTSD is critical. We suggest that the diagnosis of PTSD requires a culture-based approach in the clinical history-taking incorporating geopolitical context and an in-depth assessment of the degree of exposure to serial traumatic events.