Article
Psychiatry
Rita Rosner, Maria Hagl, Leonie Bucheler, Hannah Comtesse
Summary: This study examines homesickness in refugees and its association with mental health symptoms and migration-related factors. The results show that the participants experienced substantial levels of homesickness, with adjustment difficulties and loneliness being associated with mental health problems, and ruminating about home being predicted by migration-related variables.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Alberto Barbieri, Sanoussi Saidou Soumana, Anna Dessi, Oudou Sadou, Tajira Boubacar, Federica Visco-Comandini, Danilo Alunni Fegatelli, Sabine Pirchio
Summary: This study confirms the validity of complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) in asylum-seeking individuals living in a low-income country, and highlights the importance of both premigration factors and postmigration stressors in predicting CPTSD symptoms. These findings have important implications for reception policies and the prevention of trauma-related mental disorders among asylum seekers and refugees.
PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA-THEORY RESEARCH PRACTICE AND POLICY
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
C. Nicholas Cuneo, Kara E. Huselton, Nathan C. Praschan, Altaf Saadi, Matthew G. Gartland
Summary: Asylum seekers from the Northern Triangle in the US reported high rates of trauma and violence exposure, including gender-based violence and gang violence, along with a high prevalence of trauma-related psychiatric disorders. They also identified state actors in the Northern Triangle countries as perpetrators of violence and described being denied protection when seeking it. These findings raise doubts about the legal basis for the Asylum Cooperative Agreements and call for formal termination of the agreements with investigations into the impact on those who were removed from the US during the initial implementation.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Angela Nickerson, Yulisha Byrow, Meaghan O'Donnell, Richard A. Bryant, Vicki Mau, Tadgh McMahon, Greg Benson, Belinda J. Liddell
Summary: This study investigated the associations between self-efficacy, beliefs about others, and psychological and social outcomes in refugees. The results showed that exposure to potentially traumatic events was associated with lower self-efficacy and positive beliefs about others. Self-efficacy was negatively associated with depression and anger, while positive beliefs about others were positively associated with social engagement and depression symptoms.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
A. Aizik-Reebs, K. Yuval, Y. Beyene Kesete, I Lurie, A. Bernstein
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for suicidal ideation among asylum seekers in a high-risk post-displacement context, as well as the preventive and therapeutic effects of Mindfulness-Based Trauma Recovery for Refugees (MBTR-R). The results showed a high prevalence of suicidal ideation, which was strongly associated with post-migration difficulties, posttraumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and their comorbidity. MBTR-R was found to prevent the onset of suicidal ideation and its effects were mediated by reducing posttraumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and their comorbidity. However, MBTR-R did not have a therapeutic effect on existing suicidal ideation. These findings highlight the importance of addressing mental health post-displacement to prevent suicide among forcibly displaced people.
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRIC SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Social Work
Edith L. Slater
Summary: Refugees seek psychotherapy primarily due to the asylum-seeking process, often following recommendations from their immigration attorneys. Effective clinical decision-making before and after gaining asylum status is crucial for refugees to continue psychotherapy. This composite case study emphasizes ethical considerations in protecting clients' overall well-being while balancing advocacy and clinical work.
CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Applied
Rebecca Grekin, Emily B. K. Thomas, Michelle L. Miller, Michael W. O'Hara
Summary: Research indicates that a history of trauma and prenatal posttraumatic stress symptoms can predict postpartum depression, even if depressive symptoms are not present. Pregnant women with a traumatic past may be at risk for postpartum depression, highlighting the importance of screening for PTSS in addition to depressive symptoms. Early identification and treatment of prenatal irritability and unwanted memories of trauma may help in preventing postpartum depressive symptoms.
Article
Health Policy & Services
Yael Blay Benzaken, Shani Zohar, Kim Yuval, Anna Aizik-Reebs, Solomon Gebreyohanes Gebremariam, Amit Bernstein
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the association between COVID-19-related socioeconomic insecurity and mental health outcomes among asylum seekers. The findings showed that anxiety symptom severity and the rate of suicidal ideation among women were significantly elevated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, socioeconomic insecurity due to the pandemic was strongly associated with elevated symptom severity and probable anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorders as well as suicidal ideation.
PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES
(2023)
Review
Psychiatry
Andreas Hoell, Eirini Kourmpeli, Hans Joachim Salize, Andreas Heinz, Frank Padberg, Ute Habel, Inge Kamp-Becker, Edgar Hoehne, Kerem Boege, Malek Bajbouj
Summary: The study found that the prevalence rates of depressive symptoms and PTSD symptoms in refugees and asylum seekers in Germany are notably high, exceeding the rates in the general German population. However, due to high heterogeneity, pooled prevalence rates should be interpreted with caution.
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Jutta Joormann, Hannah N. Ziobrowski, Andrew J. King, Sarah M. Gildea, Sue Lee, Nancy A. Sampson, Stacey L. House, Francesca L. Beaudoin, Xinming An, Jennifer S. Stevens, Donglin Zeng, Thomas C. Neylan, Gari D. Clifford, Sarah D. Linnstaedt, Laura T. Germine, Kenneth A. Bollen, Scott L. Rauch, John P. Haran, Alan B. Storrow, Paul I. Jr Jr Musey, Phyllis L. Hendry, Sophia Sheikh, Christopher W. Jones, Brittany E. Punches, Meghan E. McGrath, Lauren A. Hudak, Jose L. Pascual, Mark J. Seamon, Anna M. Chang, Claire Pearson, David A. Peak, Robert M. Domeier, Niels K. Rathlev, Brian J. O'Neil, Leon D. Sanchez, Steven E. Bruce, Mark W. Miller, Robert H. Pietrzak, Deanna M. Barch, Diego A. Pizzagalli, Steven E. Harte, James M. Elliott, Karestan C. Koenen, Samuel A. McLean, Ronald C. Kessler
Summary: The study examined how prior occurrences of PTSD and MDE before a motor vehicle collision (MVC) predicted psychiatric reactions 3 months post-MVC, with results showing significant associations and dominant predictors. These associations were largely mediated by intervening PTSD and MDE at 2 and 8 weeks post-MVC. Assessing pre-MVC PTSD and MDE histories, along with follow-ups at 2 and 8 weeks, could help target early interventions for psychopathological reactions to MVCs.
DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY
(2022)
Review
Psychology, Clinical
Demelash Handiso, Yitayeh Belsti, Jacqueline A. Boyle, Eldho Paul, Frances Shawyer, Joanne C. Enticott
Summary: This study analyzed longitudinal studies and found that the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) tends to decrease after resettlement, but it may still remain relatively high after 6 years. Studies with a low risk of bias reported a larger prevalence of PTSD persisting over time, highlighting the importance of conducting high-quality longitudinal studies to inform policy. Appropriate long-term interventions are needed to decrease the impact of traumatic events on the mental health of refugees and asylum seekers.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Freyja Grupp, Sara Skandrani, Marie Rose Moro, Ricarda Mewes
Summary: Diasporic Cameroonians lead a transnational life in Europe, with many African migrants experiencing trauma and hardship before arrival. The study explores the impact of family structures and transnationalism on the explanatory models of PTSD among Cameroonian asylum-seekers and undocumented migrants.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Matthew Kimble, Olivia Cappello, Kevin Fleming
Summary: Hypervigilance, attentional bias, and negative views of the world are important factors in post-trauma symptomatology, but there may be differences in attentional patterns between depression and posttraumatic stress. This study tracked the eye movements of trauma survivors looking at ambiguous pictures and found that hypervigilance and negative views predicted patterns of fixation and scanning associated with posttraumatic stress.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Stephen J. Cozza, Christin M. Ogle, Joscelyn E. Fisher, Jing Zhou, Rafael F. Zuleta, Carol S. Fullerton, Robert J. Ursano
Summary: This study investigated the mental health of military spouses affected by combat injury and found that combat injury had a negative impact on spouses' mental health beyond the effects of deployment alone, highlighting the need for trauma-informed support for spouses of combat-injured service members.
DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Henrik Nilsson, Catharina Gustavsson, Maria Gottvall, Fredrik Saboonchi
Summary: The study found that insufficient physical activity was common among asylum seekers in Sweden, and higher levels of physical activity were strongly associated with lower severity of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Increased focus on assessing and promoting physical activity is considered important for forced migrants' health, particularly due to the extended time of the asylum-seeking processes.
