Mental health interventions for traumatized asylum seekers and refugees: What do we know about their efficacy?

Abstract

This review has again highlighted the shortage of guiding frameworks available to investigators and clinicians who are interested in tailoring interventions to work with refugees and asylum seekers. Theoretical, ethical and methodological considerations for future research are discussed.

Strengthening mental health care systems for Syrian refugees in Europe and the Middle East: integrating scalable psychological interventions in eight countries

“…European mental health care services generally offer psychotherapist or psychiatrist delivered, specialized mental health services that may involve a wide range of treatments, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) (Stenmark, Catani, Neuner, Elbert, & Holen, 2013), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) (Ter Heide, Mooren, Kleijn, de Jongh, & Kleber, 2011), and individual-based multimodal interventions for PTSD (see Nickerson, Bryant, Silove, & Steel, 2011; Nose et al, 2017; Slobodin & de Jong, 2015; van Wyk & Schweitzer, 2014 for reviews) in refugees and asylum seekers. With respect to evidence for such interventions, a recent meta-analysis that examined psychological interventions for symptoms of PTSD in refugees and asylum seekers resettled in high-income countries identified 14 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (Nose et al, 2017).…”

Can disability predict treatment outcome among traumatized refugees?

“…Three reviews have examined the efficacy of rehabilitation programs and treatment outcomes (McFarlane & Kaplan, 2012;Palic & Elklit, 2011;Slobodin & de Jong, 2015). The reviews found modest reductions in psychopathological symptoms among refugees.…”

“…In the post-migration phase, refugees often meet substantial challenges (ACPMH, 2007;Murray, Davidson, & Schweitzer, 2010). Adverse experiences such as discrimination and acculturation difficulties are common, requiring higher levels of functioning than many refugees have (ACPMH, 2007;Davidson, Murray & Schweitzer, 2008;Slobodin & de Jong, 2015;Sachs, 2011). By virtue of their traumatic and adverse experiences, refugees have an elevated risk of developing physical, social, and psychological…”

Refugees and Mental Health - Hosting, Understand and Treat

“…A eficácia da Terapia de Exposição Prolongada que explora a exposição às memórias traumáticas, às imagens traumáticas e o processamento dessas memórias acompanhada de um processo psicoeducacional é apoiada por um grande número de estudos efetuados sobre variadas populações e em diversos contextos culturais (McLean & Foa, 2011). Mas o assunto é controverso havendo autores que argumentam a necessidade do tratamento inicial se concentrar em problemas da vida diária e na restauração da capacidade de enfrentamento das situações (Slobodin & de Jong, 2014). Slobodin e de Jong (2014) defendem que a Terapia Cognitivo Comportamental e a Terapia de Exposição Narrativa são as estratégias mais eficazes para estas populações concluindo não haver dados suficientes para confirmar ou refutar abordagens alternativas, como a intervenção em grupo, intervenção familiar ou abordagem multidisciplinar no trabalho com refugiados traumatizados e requerentes de asilo.…”

“…As intervenções de natureza psicoterapêutica nestas populações são sempre difíceis uma vez que, a tradução da linguagem tantas vezes necessária, faz perder as nuances da comunicação e o tempo que demora a ser feita encurta de sobremaneira as sessões (Buhmann, 2014). O tratamento farmacológico de eleição para a PTSD nestas populações são os antidepressivos do subgrupo dos Inibidores Seletivos da Recaptação da Serotonina especialmente a Sertalina (Slobodin & de Jong, 2014).…”