Somatic Complaint and Social Suffering Among Survivors of the Cambodian Killing Fields

Summary

Illness narratives from two Cambodian Killing Fields survivors are used to explore conflicts between professional and lay perspectives on somatic complaints. Professionals see somatic complaints as psychopathology, while Cambodian survivors see it as authentic embodied pain. Survivor perspectives implicate professionals and care systems as causes of suffering. More inquiry is needed to understand survivor perspectives and the role of care systems in exacerbating/alleviating survivor suffering.

Key Words:

• Cambodians
• somatization
• mental health
• social suffering