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The Psychosocial Centre for Refugees at the University of Oslo conducted a project to study the relationship between psychosocial problems and traumatic exposure in a non‐clinical, non‐selected group of newly settled refugees in Norway. Fifty‐three doctors and health visiting nurses interviewed 462 refugees over the age of 16, in 20 municipalities in Norway. Exposure to life‐threatening events, physical violence and forced separation from family were strong predictors of psychological distress. The correlation between attitude to repatriation and traumatic exposure was explored. The main emphasis was put on the Bosnian and Kosovo‐Albanian refugees. 48.3 per cent suffered from symptoms of depression and anxiety and 18.2 per cent had psychological reactions related to traumatic stress experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]