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Halil MG, Baskow I, Zimdahl MF, Lipinski S, Hannig R, Falkai P, Fallgatter AJ, Schneider S, Walter M, Meyer-Lindenberg A, Heinz A. [The German Center for Mental Health : Innovative translational research to promote prevention, targeted intervention and resilience]. DER NERVENARZT 2024; 95:450-457. [PMID: 38489028 PMCID: PMC11068838 DOI: 10.1007/s00115-024-01632-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Due to the high disease burden, the early onset and often long-term trajectories mental disorders are among the most widespread diseases with growing significance. The German Center for Mental Health (DZPG) was established to enhance research conditions and expedite the translation of clinically relevant findings into practice. OBJECTIVE The aim of the DZPG is to optimize mental healthcare in Germany, influence modifiable social causes and to develop best practice models of care for vulnerable groups. It seeks to promote mental health and resilience, combat the stigmatization associated with mental disorders, and contribute to the enhancement of treatment across all age groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS The DZPG employs a translational research program that accelerates the translation of basic research findings into clinical studies and general practice. University hospitals and outpatient departments, other university disciplines, and extramural research institutions are working together to establish a collaboratively coordinated infrastructure for accelerated translation and innovation. RESEARCH PRIORITIES The research areas encompass 1) the interaction of somatic and mental risk and resilience factors and disorders across the lifespan, 2) influencing relevant modifiable environmental factors and 3) based on this personalized prevention and intervention. CONCLUSION The DZPG aims to develop innovative preventive and therapeutic tools that enable an improvement in care for individuals with mental disorders. It involves a comprehensive integration of experts with experience at all levels of decision-making and employs trilogue and participatory approaches in all research projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa G Halil
- Deutsches Zentrum für Psychische Gesundheit (DZPG), Standort Berlin-Potsdam, Berlin, Deutschland
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charité Platz 1, 10117, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - Irina Baskow
- Deutsches Zentrum für Psychische Gesundheit (DZPG), Standort Berlin-Potsdam, Berlin, Deutschland
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charité Platz 1, 10117, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - Malte F Zimdahl
- Deutsches Zentrum für Psychische Gesundheit (DZPG), Standort Mannheim-Heidelberg-Ulm, Heidelberg, Deutschland
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit, Mannheim, Deutschland
| | - Silke Lipinski
- Deutsches Zentrum für Psychische Gesundheit (DZPG), Standort Berlin-Potsdam, Berlin, Deutschland
- Aspies e. V. - Menschen im Autismusspektrum, Berlin, Deutschland
- Klinische Psychologie Sozialer Interaktion, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - Rüdiger Hannig
- Deutsches Zentrum für Psychische Gesundheit (DZPG), Standort Berlin-Potsdam, Berlin, Deutschland
- Bundesverband der Angehörigen psychisch erkrankter Menschen e. V., Bonn, Deutschland
| | - Peter Falkai
- Deutsches Zentrum für Psychische Gesundheit (DZPG), Standort München-Augsburg, München, Deutschland
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, LMU Klinikum, LMU München, München, Deutschland
- Max-Planck-Institut für Psychiatrie, München, Deutschland
| | - Andreas J Fallgatter
- Deutsches Zentrum für Psychische Gesundheit (DZPG), Standort Tübingen, Tübingen, Deutschland
- Abteilung für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Tübingen, Deutschland
| | - Silvia Schneider
- Deutsches Zentrum für Psychische Gesundheit (DZPG), Standort Bochum-Marburg, Bochum, Deutschland
- Klinische Kinder- und Jugendpsychologie, Forschungs- und Behandlungszentrum für psychische Gesundheit (FBZ), Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Deutschland
| | - Martin Walter
- Deutsches Zentrum für Psychische Gesundheit (DZPG), Standort Halle-Jena-Magdeburg, Halle, Deutschland
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Jena, Deutschland
| | - Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg
- Deutsches Zentrum für Psychische Gesundheit (DZPG), Standort Mannheim-Heidelberg-Ulm, Heidelberg, Deutschland
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit, Mannheim, Deutschland
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik und Nervenheilkunde e. V., Berlin, Deutschland
| | - Andreas Heinz
- Deutsches Zentrum für Psychische Gesundheit (DZPG), Standort Berlin-Potsdam, Berlin, Deutschland.
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charité Platz 1, 10117, Berlin, Deutschland.
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Berlin, Deutschland.
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Schneider J, Wiechers M, Burger M, Pogarell O, Übleis A, Padberg F, Strupf M. [Video-Assisted Psychotherapy For Refugees: A Pilot Study]. Psychother Psychosom Med Psychol 2024; 74:129-133. [PMID: 38552619 DOI: 10.1055/a-2238-4076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Global conflicts and humanitarian crises led to an increase in forced migration to Germany in recent years. To improve the mental health care system for refugees and asylum seekers in Germany perspectively, we aim to examine the feasibility of implementing the culturally sensitive group psychotherapy Empowerment for refugees with affective disorders in a video-assisted setting. METHODS Empowerment is a culturally sensitive, interpreter-assisted intervention for the treatment of depressive and stress-related symptoms in refugees. Four male refugees from Afghanistan participated in a pilot study. The intervention included 16 modules delivered via video over a 12-week period. RESULTS The internet connection was frequently unstable and led to organizational challenges. The therapy was feasible in terms of linguistic and interactional aspects. DISCUSSION The stability of the internet connection represents the major criterion for a successful implementation of the therapy. Implications for future studies are discussed. CONCLUSION Regarding the potential opportunities to improve the mental health care provision to refugees and asylum seekers in the future, the video-assisted therapy concept could be investigated in a randomized controlled trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Schneider
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Klinikum der Universität München
| | - Maren Wiechers
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Klinikum der Universität München
| | - Max Burger
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Klinikum der Universität München
| | - Oliver Pogarell
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Klinikum der Universität München
| | - Aline Übleis
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Klinikum der Universität München
| | - Frank Padberg
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Klinikum der Universität München
| | - Michael Strupf
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Klinikum der Universität München
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Höhne E, Böge K, Karnouk C, Tschorn M, Banaschewski T, Hoell A, Sukale T, Plener P, Schneider F, Padberg F, Hasan A, Rapp MA, Bajbouj M, Kamp-Becker I. Culturally sensitive stepped care for adolescent refugees: efficacy and cost-utility of a multicentric randomized controlled trial. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024; 33:581-593. [PMID: 36922435 PMCID: PMC10869413 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-023-02179-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Adolescent refugees and asylum seekers (ARAS) are highly vulnerable to mental health problems. Stepped care models (SCM) and culturally sensitive therapies offer promising treatment approaches to effectively provide necessary medical and psychological support. To our knowledge, we were the first to investigate whether a culturally sensitive SCM will reduce symptoms of depression and PTSD in ARAS more effectively and efficiently than treatment as usual (TAU). We conducted a multicentric, randomized, controlled and rater-blinded trial across Germany with ARAS between the ages of 14 to 21 years. Participants (N = 158) were stratified by their level of depressive symptom severity and then equally randomized to either SCM or TAU. Depending on their severity level, SCM participants were allocated to tailored interventions. Symptom changes were assessed for depression (PHQ) and PTSD (CATS) at four time points, with the primary end point at post-intervention after 12 weeks. Based on an intention-to-treat sample, we used a linear mixed model approach for the main statistical analyses. Further evaluations included cost-utility analyses, sensitivity analyses, follow-up-analyses, response and remission rates and subgroup analysis. We found a significant reduction of PHQ (d = 0.52) and CATS (d = 0.27) scores in both groups. However, there was no significant difference between SCM and TAU. Cost-utility analyses indicated that SCM generated greater cost-utility when measured as quality-adjusted life years compared to TAU. Subgroup analysis revealed different effects for the SCM interventions depending on the outcome measure. Although culturally sensitive, SCMs did not prove to be more effective in symptom change and represent a more cost-effective treatment alternative for mentally burdened ARAS. Our research contributes to the optimization of clinical productivity and the improvement of therapeutic care for ARAS. Disorder-specific interventions should be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar Höhne
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Medical Clinic, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
| | - Kerem Böge
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carine Karnouk
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mira Tschorn
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Tobias Banaschewski
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Andreas Hoell
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Thorsten Sukale
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Paul Plener
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Frank Schneider
- University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical School University of Duesseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Frank Padberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Alkomiet Hasan
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, BKH Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Michael A Rapp
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Malek Bajbouj
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Inge Kamp-Becker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Medical Clinic, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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Wiechers M, Strupf M, Bajbouj M, Böge K, Karnouk C, Goerigk S, Kamp-Becker I, Banaschewski T, Rapp M, Hasan A, Falkai P, Jobst-Heel A, Habel U, Stamm T, Heinz A, Hoell A, Burger M, Bunse T, Hoehne E, Mehran N, Kaiser F, Hahn E, Plener P, Übleis A, Padberg F. Empowerment group therapy for refugees with affective disorders: results of a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Eur Psychiatry 2023; 66:e64. [PMID: 37458215 PMCID: PMC10594347 DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.2431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Against the background of missing culturally sensitive mental health care services for refugees, we developed a group intervention (Empowerment) for refugees at level 3 within the stratified Stepped and Collaborative Care Model of the project Mental Health in Refugees and Asylum Seekers (MEHIRA). We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of the Empowerment group intervention with its focus on psychoeducation, stress management, and emotion regulation strategies in a culturally sensitive context for refugees with affective disorders compared to treatment-as-usual (TAU). METHOD At level 3 of the MEHIRA project, 149 refugees and asylum seekers with clinically relevant depressive symptoms were randomized to the Empowerment group intervention or TAU. Treatment comprised 16 therapy sessions conducted over 12 weeks. Effects were measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MÅDRS). Further scales included assessed emotional distress, self-efficacy, resilience, and quality of life. RESULTS Intention-to-treat analyses show significant cross-level interactions on both self-rated depressive symptoms (PHQ-9; F(1,147) = 13.32, p < 0.001) and clinician-rated depressive symptoms (MÅDRS; F(1,147) = 6.91, p = 0.01), indicating an improvement in depressive symptoms from baseline to post-intervention in the treatment group compared to the control group. The effect sizes for both scales were moderate (d = 0.68, 95% CI 0.21-1.15 for PHQ-9 and d = 0.51, 95% CI 0.04-0.99 for MÅDRS). CONCLUSION In the MEHIRA project comparing an SCCM approach versus TAU, the Empowerment group intervention at level 3 showed effectiveness for refugees with moderately severe depressive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maren Wiechers
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Strupf
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Malek Bajbouj
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kerem Böge
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carine Karnouk
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stephan Goerigk
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital LMU, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychological Methodology and Assessment, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
- Charlotte Fresenius Hochschule, University of Applied Sciences, Munich, Germany
| | - Inge Kamp-Becker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Banaschewski
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Michael Rapp
- Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Alkomiet Hasan
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, BKH Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Peter Falkai
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Andrea Jobst-Heel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Ute Habel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | | | - Andreas Heinz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Hoell
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute for Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Max Burger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Tilmann Bunse
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, BKH Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Edgar Hoehne
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Nassim Mehran
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Franziska Kaiser
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Eric Hahn
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Paul Plener
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Aline Übleis
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Frank Padberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital LMU, Munich, Germany
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Claus L, Schouler-Ocak M, Braakman MH, Sabbe B, Van Beuren G, van den Ameele S. Unlocking asylum seekers' voices: protocol of a mixed-method clinical study on the use of the cultural formulation interview with asylum seekers in Belgium. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1156803. [PMID: 37215655 PMCID: PMC10192900 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1156803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Despite a high prevalence of mental disorders among asylum seekers, many barriers to mental healthcare exist. Cultural and contextual factors strongly influence the experience and expression of psychological distress, putting asylum seekers at greater risk of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. The Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI) is a useful tool to map out cultural and contextual factors of mental disorders; however, to the best of our knowledge, it has not yet been investigated in asylum seekers specifically. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the value of the CFI in the psychiatric assessment of asylum seekers. Second, we will describe the themes relevant to psychiatric distress in asylum seekers that are identified by the CFI. In addition, asylum seekers' experience of the CFI will be evaluated. Methods and analysis This cross-sectional, mixed-method clinical study aims to recruit a group of 60-80 asylum seekers (age 15-29) with mental health symptoms. Data will be collected using structured (MINI, PCL-5, HDRS-17, WHOQoL-BREF & BSI) and semi-structured (CFI & CFI-debriefing) questionnaires to assess cultural background, contextual factors, and illness severity. Multidisciplinary case discussions will be held after the completion of interviews, following a methodological stepped approach. Combining qualitative and quantitative research techniques, this study aims to generate reliable knowledge on working with the CFI in asylum seekers. Based on the findings, recommendations for clinicians will be developed. Discussion This study addresses the knowledge gap on using the CFI in asylum seekers. Compared to prior studies, it will provide new insights into the use of the CFI in the specific context of working with asylum seekers. Ethics and dissemination Prior research on the CFI in asylum seekers is limited, partly because of their high vulnerability and low access to care. The study protocol has been tailored in close collaboration with several stakeholders and validated after piloting. Ethical approval has already been obtained. Together with the stakeholders, the results will be translated into guidelines and training materials. Recommendations to policymakers will also be provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Claus
- Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), Universiteit Antwerpen (UA), Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Psychiatry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Meryam Schouler-Ocak
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Clinic of Charité at St. Hedwig Hospital, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mario H. Braakman
- Department of Psychiatric Residency Training, Pro Persona Mental Health, Wolfheze, Netherlands
- Department of Criminal Law, Tilburg Law School, Tilburg University, Tilburg, Netherlands
| | - Bernard Sabbe
- Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), Universiteit Antwerpen (UA), Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Godfried Van Beuren
- Management Culturally Sensitive Care, St. Alexius Psychiatric Hospital, Grimbergen, Belgium
| | - Seline van den Ameele
- Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), Universiteit Antwerpen (UA), Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Psychiatry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium
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Strupf M, Wiechers M, Bajbouj M, Böge K, Karnouk C, Goerigk S, Kamp-Becker I, Banaschewski T, Rapp M, Hasan A, Falkai P, Jobst-Heel A, Habel U, Stamm T, Heinz A, Hoell A, Burger M, Bunse T, Hoehne E, Mehran N, Kaiser F, Hahn E, Plener P, Übleis A, Padberg F. Predicting treatment outcomes of the Empowerment group intervention for refugees with affective disorders: Findings from the MEHIRA project. J Affect Disord 2023; 323:241-250. [PMID: 36427652 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.11.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research on outcome predictors in the field of transcultural treatment for refugees and asylum seekers (RAS) is scarce. We aimed to evaluate predictors of outcome of a group intervention (Empowerment) for RAS with affective disorders which was incorporated at level three of the stratified stepped-care model within the Mental Health in Refugees and Asylum Seekers (MEHIRA) project. METHODS A predictor analysis was performed at level three of the MEHIRA project, where 149 refugees with moderate depressive symptoms were treated either with Empowerment or Treatment-as-usual (TAU). Outcome measures were depression severity as assessed by patient-rated Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) and clinician-rated Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Regression models with change scores (T1-T0) of PHQ-9 and MADRS as dependent variables were fit. Predictor selection was a mixed-method approach combining testing of literature-based hypotheses and explorative hypothesis-generating analyses of multiple baseline variables. RESULTS Intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses revealed significant linear relationships between change in PHQ-9 and baseline depression severity (β = -0.35, t = -3.27, p = .002) and perceived self-efficacy (β = -0.24, t = -2.26, p = .027) in the treatment (verum) condition. MADRS change scores were predicted by baseline depression severity (β = -0.71, t = -8.65, p < .001) in the treatment (verum) condition. LIMITATIONS Due to small cell numbers, single predictors could not be evaluated reliably. CONCLUSIONS Severity of depression and self-efficacy at baseline were predictors of symptom improvement at level three (Empowerment) of the MEHIRA project. Comorbidity and trauma indicators did not predict outcomes in the treatment (verum) condition, pointing towards broad applicability of the Empowerment intervention in refugee populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Strupf
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital LMU, Munich, Germany.
| | - Maren Wiechers
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Malek Bajbouj
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kerem Böge
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carine Karnouk
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stephan Goerigk
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital LMU, Munich, Germany; Department of Psychological Methodology and Assessment, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany; Charlotte Fresenius Hochschule, University of Applied Sciences, Munich, Germany
| | - Inge Kamp-Becker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Banaschewski
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Michael Rapp
- Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Alkomiet Hasan
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, University Augsburg, BKH Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Peter Falkai
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Andrea Jobst-Heel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Ute Habel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | | | - Andreas Heinz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Hoell
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Max Burger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Tilmann Bunse
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, University Augsburg, BKH Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Edgar Hoehne
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Nassim Mehran
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Franziska Kaiser
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Eric Hahn
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Paul Plener
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Aline Übleis
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Frank Padberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital LMU, Munich, Germany
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7
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Schilz L, Kemna S, Karnouk C, Böge K, Lindheimer N, Walther L, Mohamad S, Suboh A, Hasan A, Höhne E, Banaschewski T, Plener P, Strupf M, Hahn E, Bajbouj M. A house is not a home: a network model perspective on the dynamics between subjective quality of living conditions, social support, and mental health of refugees and asylum seekers. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2023; 58:757-768. [PMID: 36633630 PMCID: PMC10097787 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-022-02419-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Providing adequate living conditions for forcibly displaced people represents a significant challenge for host countries such as Germany. This study explores refugee mental health's reciprocal, dynamic relationship with post-migration living conditions and social support. METHODS The study sample included 325 Arabic- or Farsi-speaking asylum seekers and refugees residing in Germany since 2014 and seeking mental health treatment. Associations between reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress and depression and the subjective quality of living conditions and perceived social support were analyzed using a two-level approach including multiple linear regression and network analyses. RESULTS Post-migration quality of living conditions and perceived social support were significantly associated with negative mental health outcomes on both levels. In the network, both post-migration factors were negatively connected with overlapping symptoms of psychiatric disorders, representing potential target symptoms for psychological treatment. CONCLUSION Post-migration quality of living conditions and social support are important factors for refugee mental health and should be targeted by various actors fostering mental well-being and integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Schilz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Solveig Kemna
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carine Karnouk
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kerem Böge
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nico Lindheimer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lena Walther
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sara Mohamad
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Amani Suboh
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alkomiet Hasan
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, BKH Ausgburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Edgar Höhne
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Banaschewski
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Paul Plener
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Michael Strupf
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Erik Hahn
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Malek Bajbouj
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany.
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8
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Smartphone-delivered mental health care interventions for refugees: A systematic review of the literature. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 2023; 10:e6. [PMID: 36843879 PMCID: PMC9947632 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2022.61] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
According to the United Nations, an estimated 26.6 million people worldwide were refugees in 2021. Experiences before, during, and after flight increase psychological distress and contribute to a high prevalence of mental disorders. The resulting high need for mental health care is generally not reflected in the actual mental health care provision for refugees. A possible strategy to close this gap might be to offer smartphone-delivered mental health care. This systematic review summarizes the current state of research on smartphone-delivered interventions for refugees, answering the following research questions: (1) Which smartphone-delivered interventions are available for refugees? (2) What do we know about their clinical (efficacy) and (3) nonclinical outcomes (e.g., feasibility, appropriateness, acceptance, and barriers)? (4) What are their dropout rates and dropout reasons? (5) To what extent do smartphone-delivered interventions consider data security? Relevant databases were systematically searched for published studies, gray literature, and unpublished information. In total, 456 data points were screened. Twelve interventions were included (nine interventions from 11 peer-reviewed articles and three interventions without published study reports), comprising nine interventions for adult refugees and three for adolescent and young refugees. Study participants were mostly satisfied with the interventions, indicating adequate acceptability. Only one randomized controlled trial (RCT; from two RCTs and two pilot RCTs) found a significant reduction in the primary clinical outcome compared to the control group. Dropout rates ranged from 2.9 to 80%. In the discussion, the heterogeneous findings are integrated into the current state of literature.
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9
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Böge K, Karnouk C, Hoell A, Tschorn M, Kamp-Becker I, Padberg F, Übleis A, Hasan A, Falkai P, Salize HJ, Meyer-Lindenberg A, Banaschewski T, Schneider F, Habel U, Plener P, Hahn E, Wiechers M, Strupf M, Jobst A, Millenet S, Hoehne E, Sukale T, Dinauer R, Schuster M, Mehran N, Kaiser F, Bröcheler S, Lieb K, Heinz A, Rapp M, Bajbouj M. Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness for the treatment of depressive symptoms in refugees and asylum seekers: A multi-centred randomized controlled trial. Lancet Reg Health Eur 2022; 19:100413. [PMID: 35694653 PMCID: PMC9184853 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2022.100413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Current evidence points towards a high prevalence of psychological distress in refugee populations, contrasting with a scarcity of resources and amplified by linguistic, institutional, financial, and cultural barriers. The objective of the study is to investigate the overall effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a Stepped Care and Collaborative Model (SCCM) at reducing depressive symptoms in refugees, compared with the overall routine care practices within Germany's mental healthcare system (treatment-as-usual, TAU). Methods A multicentre, clinician-blinded, randomised, controlled trial was conducted across seven university sites in Germany. Asylum seekers and refugees with relevant depressive symptoms with a Patient Health Questionnaires score of ≥ 5 and a Refugee Health Screener score of ≥ 12. Participants were randomly allocated to one of two treatment arms (SCCM or TAU) for an intervention period of three months between April 2018 and March 2020. In the SCCM, participants were allocated to interventions tailored to their symptom severity, including watchful waiting, peer-to-peer- or smartphone intervention, psychological group therapies or mental health expert treatment. The primary endpoint was defined as the change in depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, PHQ-9) after 12 weeks. The secondary outcome was the change in Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) from baseline to post-intervention. Findings The intention-to-treat sample included 584 participants who were randomized to the SCCM (n= 294) or TAU (n=290). Using a mixed-effects general linear model with time, and the interaction of time by randomisation group as fixed effects and study site as random effect, we found significant effects for time (p < .001) and time by group interaction (p < .05) for intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis. Estimated marginal means of the PHQ-9 scores after 12 weeks were significantly lower in SCCM than in TAU (for intention-to-treat: PHQ-9 mean difference at T1 1.30, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.48, p < .001; Cohen's d=.23; baseline-adjusted PHQ-9 mean difference at T1 0.57, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.74, p < .001). Cost-effectiveness and net monetary benefit analyses provided evidence of cost-effectiveness for the primary outcome and quality-adjusted life years. Robustness of results were confirmed by sensitivity analyses. Interpretation The SSCM resulted in a more effective and cost-effective reduction of depressive symptoms compared with TAU. Findings suggest a suitable model to provide mental health services in circumstances where resources are limited, particularly in the context of forced migration and pandemics. Funding This project is funded by the Innovationsfond and German Ministry of Health [grant number 01VSF16061]. The present trial is registered under Clinical-Trials.gov under the registration number: NCT03109028. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03109028
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10
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Orang TM, Missmahl I, Thoele AM, Valensise L, Brenner A, Gardisi M, Peter H, Kluge U. New directions in the mental health care of migrants, including refugees-A randomized controlled trial investigating the efficacy of value-based counselling. Clin Psychol Psychother 2022; 29:1433-1446. [PMID: 35199419 DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Specialized literature has identified a need for evidence-based, low-threshold, short-term, and intracultural psychological interventions that can be made available to migrants, including refugees, who suffer from psychological symptoms in host countries. The objective of the present study is to measure the efficacy of value-based counselling (VBC) as such an intervention. METHOD We conducted a pragmatic, rater-blinded randomized controlled trial employing a pre-post control group design to assess the efficacy of VBC based on a study sample of 103 migrants, including refugees, who resided in Germany at the time. A set of instruments was used to evaluate primary outcome measures of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, perceived stress, generalized anxiety, and somatic complaints. RESULTS Per protocol analysis included 42 participants in the VBC group, and 43 in the waiting list. Compared with participants in the waiting-list group, the VBC group, following an average of four counselling sessions, experienced a clinically meaningful reduction of depression (adjusted difference 7.06, 95% CI [4.86, 9.26], effect size 0.68, p < .001), PTSD (adjusted difference 17.15, 95% CI [10.49, 23.81], effect size 0.76, p < .001), perceived stress (adjusted difference 9.25, 95% CI [6.23, 12.27], effect size 0.75, p < .001), anxiety (adjusted difference 5.34, 95% CI [3.47, 7.20], effect size 0.70, p < .001), and somatic complaints (adjusted difference 5.52, 95% CI [3.30, 7.74], effect size 0.72, p < .001). The positive outcomes were maintained at 3-month follow-up. Utilization of mental health services was significantly reduced at the 3-month follow-up conducted with participants of the VBC group. CONCLUSIONS VBC, a culturally sensitive and strength-based mental health service, is an effective short-term intervention which meets the specific mental health needs of migrants, including refugees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahereh Mina Orang
- Ipso gGmbH - International Psychosocial Organisation, Berlin, Germany.,Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Inge Missmahl
- Ipso gGmbH - International Psychosocial Organisation, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna-Maria Thoele
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Livia Valensise
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Brenner
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maryam Gardisi
- Ipso gGmbH - International Psychosocial Organisation, Berlin, Germany
| | - Helmut Peter
- Medizinisches Versorgungszentrum Falkenried, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ulrike Kluge
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany.,Berliner Institut für empirische Integrations- und Migrationsforschung (BIM), Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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11
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Rondung E, Leiler A, Sarkadi A, Bjärtå A, Lampa E, Löfving SG, Calam R, Oppedal B, Keeshin B, Warner G. Feasibility of a randomised trial of Teaching Recovery Techniques (TRT) with refugee youth: results from a pilot of the Swedish UnaccomPanied yOuth Refugee Trial (SUPpORT). Pilot Feasibility Stud 2022; 8:40. [PMID: 35164865 PMCID: PMC8843024 DOI: 10.1186/s40814-022-00998-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although post-traumatic stress is prevalent among unaccompanied refugee minors (URM), there are few evidence-based psychological interventions for this group. Teaching Recovery Techniques (TRT) is a brief, manualised intervention for trauma-exposed youth, which has shown promising results in exploratory studies. The aim of the present study was to assess the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the use of TRT among URM by investigating key uncertainties relating to recruitment, randomisation, intervention delivery and data collection. Methods A 3-month long non-blinded internal randomised pilot trial with a parallel-group design assessed the feasibility of a planned nationwide multi-site RCT. URM with or without granted asylum were eligible if they were 14 to 20 years old, had arrived in Sweden within the last 5 years and had screened positive for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Quantitative data were collected pre- and post-intervention, and 18 weeks after randomisation. On-site individual randomisation (1:1) followed directly after pre-intervention assessment. Participants allocated to the intervention were offered seven weekly group-based TRT sessions. Quantitative pilot outcomes were analysed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative information was gathered through on-site observations and follow-up dialogue with group facilitators. A process for Decision-making after Pilot and feasibility Trials (ADePT) was used to support systematic decision-making in moving forward with the trial. Results Fifteen URM (mean age 17.73 years) with PTSD symptoms were recruited at two sites. Three of the youths were successfully randomised to either TRT or waitlist control (TRT n = 2, waitlist n = 1). Fourteen participants were offered TRT for ethical reasons, despite not being randomised. Six (43%) attended ≥ 4 of the seven sessions. Seventy-three percent of the participants completed at least two assessments, with a response rate of 53% at both post-intervention and follow-up. Conclusions The findings demonstrated a need for amendments to the protocol, especially with regard to the procedures for recruitment and randomisation. Upon refinement of the study protocol and strategies, an adequately powered RCT was pursued, with data from this pilot study excluded. Trial registration ISRCTN47820795, prospectively registered on 20 December 2018
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12
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Falkai P, Koutsouleris N, Bertsch K, Bialas M, Binder E, Bühner M, Buyx A, Cai N, Cappello S, Ehring T, Gensichen J, Hamann J, Hasan A, Henningsen P, Leucht S, Möhrmann KH, Nagelstutz E, Padberg F, Peters A, Pfäffel L, Reich-Erkelenz D, Riedl V, Rueckert D, Schmitt A, Schulte-Körne G, Scheuring E, Schulze TG, Starzengruber R, Stier S, Theis FJ, Winkelmann J, Wurst W, Priller J. Concept of the Munich/Augsburg Consortium Precision in Mental Health for the German Center of Mental Health. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:815718. [PMID: 35308871 PMCID: PMC8930853 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.815718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) issued a call for a new nationwide research network on mental disorders, the German Center of Mental Health (DZPG). The Munich/Augsburg consortium was selected to participate as one of six partner sites with its concept "Precision in Mental Health (PriMe): Understanding, predicting, and preventing chronicity." PriMe bundles interdisciplinary research from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Technical University of Munich (TUM), University of Augsburg (UniA), Helmholtz Center Munich (HMGU), and Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry (MPIP) and has a focus on schizophrenia (SZ), bipolar disorder (BPD), and major depressive disorder (MDD). PriMe takes a longitudinal perspective on these three disorders from the at-risk stage to the first-episode, relapsing, and chronic stages. These disorders pose a major health burden because in up to 50% of patients they cause untreatable residual symptoms, which lead to early social and vocational disability, comorbidities, and excess mortality. PriMe aims at reducing mortality on different levels, e.g., reducing death by psychiatric and somatic comorbidities, and will approach this goal by addressing interdisciplinary and cross-sector approaches across the lifespan. PriMe aims to add a precision medicine framework to the DZPG that will propel deeper understanding, more accurate prediction, and personalized prevention to prevent disease chronicity and mortality across mental illnesses. This framework is structured along the translational chain and will be used by PriMe to innovate the preventive and therapeutic management of SZ, BPD, and MDD from rural to urban areas and from patients in early disease stages to patients with long-term disease courses. Research will build on platforms that include one on model systems, one on the identification and validation of predictive markers, one on the development of novel multimodal treatments, one on the regulation and strengthening of the uptake and dissemination of personalized treatments, and finally one on testing of the clinical effectiveness, utility, and scalability of such personalized treatments. In accordance with the translational chain, PriMe's expertise includes the ability to integrate understanding of bio-behavioral processes based on innovative models, to translate this knowledge into clinical practice and to promote user participation in mental health research and care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Falkai
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Nikolaos Koutsouleris
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Katja Bertsch
- Department of Psychology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Mirko Bialas
- Münchner Psychiatrie-Erfahrene e.V., Munich, Germany
| | | | - Markus Bühner
- Department of Psychology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Alena Buyx
- Institute of History and Ethics in Medicine, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Na Cai
- Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Thomas Ehring
- Department of Psychology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Johannes Hamann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Alkomiet Hasan
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Peter Henningsen
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Leucht
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | | | - Frank Padberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Annette Peters
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lea Pfäffel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Daniela Reich-Erkelenz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Valentin Riedl
- Neuroimaging Center, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Daniel Rueckert
- Institute for AI and Informatics in Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Andrea Schmitt
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Laboratory of Neuroscience (LIM 27), Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gerd Schulte-Körne
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Thomas G Schulze
- Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Susanne Stier
- Münchner Psychiatrie-Erfahrene e.V., Munich, Germany
| | - Fabian J Theis
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Juliane Winkelmann
- Institute of Human Genetics, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wurst
- Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Josef Priller
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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13
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Höhne E, Banaschewski T, Bajbouj M, Böge K, Sukale T, Kamp-Becker I. Prevalences of mental distress and its associated factors in unaccompanied refugee minors in Germany. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2021:10.1007/s00787-021-01926-z. [PMID: 34919189 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-021-01926-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Prevalences for mental disorders within minor refugees are comparatively high and heterogeneous. To reduce heterogeneity and identify high-risk subgroups, we compared unaccompanied refugee minors (URM) to accompanied refugee minors (ARM) regarding depressive symptoms and mental distress. Furthermore, we examined associative factors of mental distress in URM on a broad scale. We conducted a survey with a cross-sectional design in four German University hospitals. The sample consisted of n = 172 URM and n = 52 ARM aged 14-21. Depressive symptoms were assessed via the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Mental distress was assessed by the Refugee Health Screener (RHS-15). Mann-Whitney test was used to examine differences between URM and ARM. Associated factors of mental distress were evaluated via a stepwise multiple regression analysis. URM showed significantly higher mean scores for PHQ-9 (p < .001) and RHS-15 (p < .001) compared to ARM indicating medium effect sizes. Furthermore, URM were significantly more likely to surpass the cut-off for depression (61.6% vs. 30.8%) and overall mental distress (81.4% vs. 53.8%) compared to ARM. The factors Number of stressful life events (SLE), Female gender, and Fear of deportation were found to be associated with an increased mental distress in URM, whereas Weekly contact to a family member, School attendance, and German language skills were accompanied with lower distress scores. All six factors accounted for 32% of the variance of mental distress in URM (p < .001). Within minor refugees, URM are a highly vulnerable subgroup, which should receive particular attention and more targeted measures by health authorities. Our results indicate that these measures should comprise a rapid promotion of family contact, school attendance, language acquisition, and the fast processing of asylum applications. However, the cross-sectional design limits the interpretability of the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Höhne
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Human Medicine, University Hospital of Marburg and Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
| | - T Banaschewski
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - M Bajbouj
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - K Böge
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - T Sukale
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - I Kamp-Becker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Human Medicine, University Hospital of Marburg and Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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14
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Walther L, Rayes D, Amann J, Flick U, Ta TMT, Hahn E, Bajbouj M. Mental Health and Integration: A Qualitative Study on the Struggles of Recently Arrived Refugees in Germany. Front Public Health 2021; 9:576481. [PMID: 34805055 PMCID: PMC8599120 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.576481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Forcibly displaced people are at particular risk of mental health problems and also face specific integration challenges upon resettlement. Existing literature suggests that there may be a bidirectional relationship between mental health and integration. The present study seeks to understand the relationship between integration processes and mental health problems or significant negative emotional experiences among adult refugees in Germany. Method: Applying a qualitative approach, we conducted 54 semi-structured interviews with refugees and asylum seekers who arrived in Germany between 2013 and 2018 currently residing in Berlin, Leipzig, or the Duisburg area in North Rhine-Westphalia. Data was collected between December 2018 and September 2019. We analyzed transcripts inductively using thematic analysis. Results: Five themes covering the various links between integration and mental health problems or significant negative emotional experiences were identified. First, we found that the mental health consequences of past adverse experiences, as well as ongoing worries about those left behind in the homeland, can seriously impede refugees' ability to pursue activities key to integration. Second, the process of applying for and securing asylum can result in uncertainty and fear, which, in turn, burden the individual and may impact motivation for integration. Third, many of our participants described mental health ramifications related to feeling stuck and thwarted in the pursuit of building a life, especially in securing employment. Fourth, some participants described feeling so overwhelmed by fundamental tasks throughout the integration process, namely, language learning and bureaucratic processes, that these take a psychological toll. Fifth, we identified several forms of social disconnection between refugees and members of the host community due to xenophobia, social and cultural differences, physical and emotional isolation in refugee camps, as well as with co-nationals and fellow refugees. Negative emotions, mistrust, and socio-cultural differences that emerge throughout the integration processes seem to erode social cohesion among refugee communities, potentially further threatening mental health. Conclusion: Mental health problems and integration processes appear to be closely related across different areas of integration. Innovative solutions to challenges identified by members of the refugee community in Germany stand to benefit mental health and integration outcomes simultaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Walther
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Diana Rayes
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Amann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Uwe Flick
- Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thi Minh Tam Ta
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Eric Hahn
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Malek Bajbouj
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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15
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Weise C, Grupp F, Reese JP, Schade-Brittinger C, Ehring T, Morina N, Stangier U, Steil R, Johow J, Mewes R. Efficacy of a Low-threshold, Culturally-Sensitive Group Psychoeducation Programme for Asylum Seekers (LoPe): study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e047385. [PMID: 34649846 PMCID: PMC8522658 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite high levels of mental distress, accessing psychological treatment is difficult for asylum seekers in Western host countries due to a lack of knowledge about mental disorders, and the health system, as well as due to cultural and language barriers. This study aims to investigate whether brief culturally sensitive and transdiagnostic psychoeducation is effective in increasing mental health literacy. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The study is a parallel two-group randomised controlled trial with 1:1 individual allocation to either culturally sensitive, low-threshold psychoeducation ('Tea Garden' (TG)) or a waitlist (WL) control group. It takes place at four study sites in Germany. A total of 166 adult asylum seekers who report at least mild mental distress will be randomly assigned. The TG consists of two 90 min group sessions and provides information about mental distress, resources and mental health services in a culturally sensitive manner. The primary outcome is the percentage of participants in the TG, as compared with the WL, achieving an increase in knowledge concerning symptoms of mental disorders, individual resources and mental healthcare from preintervention to postintervention. The further trajectory will be assessed 2 and 6 months after the end of the intervention. Secondary outcomes include changes in mental distress, openness towards psychotherapy and resilience. Furthermore, healthcare utilisation and economics will be assessed at all assessment points. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study has been approved by the Ethics Commission of the German Psychological Society (ref: WeiseCornelia2019-10-18VA). Results will be disseminated via presentations, publication in international journals and national outlets for clinicians. Furthermore, intervention materials will be available, and the existing network will be used to disseminate and implement the interventions into routine healthcare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER DRKS00020564; Pre-results. PROTOCOL VERSION 2020-10-06, version number: VO2F.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Weise
- Department of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Freyja Grupp
- Department of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Jens-Peter Reese
- Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Coordinating Centre for Clinical Trials Marburg, Faculty of Medicine, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Carmen Schade-Brittinger
- Coordinating Centre for Clinical Trials Marburg, Faculty of Medicine, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Ehring
- Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychological Treatment, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munchen, Germany
| | - Nexhmedin Morina
- Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Ulrich Stangier
- Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Regina Steil
- Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Johannes Johow
- Coordinating Centre for Clinical Trials Marburg, Faculty of Medicine, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Ricarda Mewes
- Faculty of Psychology, Outpatient Unit for Research, Teaching and Practice, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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van Es CM, Sleijpen M, Velu ME, Boelen PA, van Loon RE, Veldman M, Kusmallah N, Ekster PJC, Mooren T. Overcoming barriers to mental health care: multimodal trauma-focused treatment approach for unaccompanied refugee minors. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2021; 15:53. [PMID: 34592993 PMCID: PMC8482361 DOI: 10.1186/s13034-021-00404-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study evaluated the feasibility of a short-term, multimodal trauma-focused treatment approach adapted specifically for unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs) in the Netherlands. This approach aims to overcome barriers to mental health care and to reduce symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. METHODS An uncontrolled study was conducted, evaluating the main request for help, treatment integrity and feasibility, and the course of symptoms of PTSD (Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale-13) and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire modified for Adolescents). RESULTS In total, 41 minors were included in the study. Most participants were male (n = 27), predominately from Eritrea (75.6%) with a mean age of 16.5 (SD = 1.5). Minors mostly reported psychological problems, such as problems sleeping, and psychosocial problems, including worries about family reunification. Deviations from the approach were made to meet the current needs of the minors. Factors limiting the feasibility of the approach were often related to continuous stressors, such as news concerning asylum status. CONCLUSIONS The results provide a first indication that this approach partly overcomes barriers to mental health care and emphasize the added value of collaborating with intercultural mediators and offering outreach care. TRIAL REGISTRATION The study was registered in the Netherlands Trial Register (NL8585), 10 April 2020, Retrospectively registered, https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/8585 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlijn M. van Es
- grid.5477.10000000120346234Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands ,grid.491097.2ARQ Centrum’45, partner in ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Diemen, The Netherlands
| | - Marieke Sleijpen
- grid.491097.2ARQ Centrum’45, partner in ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Diemen, The Netherlands
| | - Merel E. Velu
- grid.5477.10000000120346234Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands ,grid.491097.2ARQ Centrum’45, partner in ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Diemen, The Netherlands
| | - Paul A. Boelen
- grid.5477.10000000120346234Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands ,grid.491097.2ARQ Centrum’45, partner in ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Diemen, The Netherlands
| | - Renate E. van Loon
- grid.491097.2ARQ Centrum’45, partner in ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Diemen, The Netherlands ,Nidos, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Marjan Veldman
- grid.491097.2ARQ Centrum’45, partner in ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Diemen, The Netherlands ,Ouder- en Kind Team Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Nebil Kusmallah
- Nidos, Utrecht, the Netherlands ,grid.12380.380000 0004 1754 9227Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Sociology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Paula J. C. Ekster
- grid.468637.80000 0004 0465 6592De Evenaar, Center for Transcultural Psychiatry, GGZ Drenthe Mental Health Care, Assen, The Netherlands
| | - Trudy Mooren
- grid.5477.10000000120346234Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands ,grid.491097.2ARQ Centrum’45, partner in ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Diemen, The Netherlands
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Sechs Jahre nach der „Flüchtlingskrise“ – Welche digitalen Interventionen stehen Geflüchteten mit psychischen Störungen zur Verfügung? PSYCHOTHERAPEUT 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00278-021-00534-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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18
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Cratsley K, Brooks MA, Mackey TK. Refugee Mental Health, Global Health Policy, and the Syrian Crisis. Front Public Health 2021; 9:676000. [PMID: 34414156 PMCID: PMC8369241 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.676000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The most recent global refugee figures are staggering, with over 82.4 million people forcibly displaced and 26.4 million registered refugees. The ongoing conflict in Syria is a major contributor. After a decade of violence and destabilization, over 13.4 million Syrians have been displaced, including 6.7 million internally displaced persons and 6.7 million refugees registered in other countries. Beyond the immediate political and economic challenges, an essential component of any response to this humanitarian crisis must be health-related, including policies and interventions specific to mental health. This policy and practice review addresses refugee mental health in the context of the Syrian crisis, providing an update and overview of the current situation while exploring new initiatives in mental health research and global health policy that can help strengthen and expand services. Relevant global health policy frameworks are first briefly introduced, followed by a short summary of recent research on refugee mental health. We then provide an update on the current status of research, service provision, and health policy in the leading destinations for Syrians who have been forcibly displaced. This starts within Syria and then turns to Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, and Germany. Finally, several general recommendations are discussed, including the pressing need for more data at each phase of migration, the expansion of integrated mental health services, and the explicit inclusion and prioritization of refugee mental health in national and global health policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelso Cratsley
- Department of Philosophy & Religion, American University, Washington, DC, United States
| | | | - Tim K. Mackey
- Global Health Program, Department of Anthropology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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19
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Hoell A, Kourmpeli E, Salize HJ, Heinz A, Padberg F, Habel U, Kamp-Becker I, Höhne E, Böge K, Bajbouj M. Prevalence of depressive symptoms and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder among newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers in Germany: systematic review and meta-analysis. BJPsych Open 2021; 7:e93. [PMID: 33938425 PMCID: PMC8142547 DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2021.54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In total numbers, Germany has faced the largest number of refugees and asylum seekers (RAS) in Europe in the past decade. Although a considerable proportion have experienced traumatic and stressful life events, there is no systematic review to date examining the prevalence of depressive symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in RAS in Germany. AIMS To calculate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and PTSD symptoms in the general population of RAS living in Germany after the year 2000 and explore the impact of study- and participant-related characteristics on prevalence estimates. METHOD We systematically searched PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PSYNDEX, Academic Search Complete, Science Direct and Web of Science from January 2000 to May 2020 to identify articles reporting prevalence of depressive symptoms and PTSD in RAS in Germany (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020182796). RESULTS In total, 31 different surveys met inclusion criteria with 20 surveys reporting prevalence estimates of depressive symptoms and 25 surveys symptoms of PTSD. Based on screening tools, the pooled prevalence estimate of PTSD symptoms was 29.9% (95% CI 20.8-38.7%) and of depressive symptoms 39.8% (95% CI 29.8-50.1%). Heterogeneity was large within and between subgroups. In multivariate meta-regressions on depressive symptoms, heterogeneity was largely explained by survey period, length of field period and study quality. CONCLUSIONS Prevalence rates of depressive symptoms and PTSD symptoms in RAS are notably large. They exceed the prevalence in the general German population. As a result of high heterogeneity, however, pooled prevalence rates should be interpreted with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Hoell
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Eirini Kourmpeli
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hans Joachim Salize
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andreas Heinz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Padberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Innenstadt, Clinic of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Germany
| | - Ute Habel
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
| | - Inge Kamp-Becker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Human Medicine, Philipps-University Marburg, Germany
| | - Edgar Höhne
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Human Medicine, Philipps-University Marburg, Germany
| | - Kerem Böge
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Germany
| | - Malek Bajbouj
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Germany
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20
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Karnouk C, Böge K, Lindheimer N, Churbaji D, Abdelmagid S, Mohamad S, Hahn E, Bajbouj M. Development of a culturally sensitive Arabic version of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.-AR) and validation of the depression module. Int J Ment Health Syst 2021; 15:24. [PMID: 33736659 PMCID: PMC7977598 DOI: 10.1186/s13033-021-00447-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Arabic represents one of the most frequently spoken languages worldwide, especially among refugee populations. There is a pressing need for specialized diagnostic tools corresponding to the DSM-5 criteria in Modern Standard Arabic, which can be administered on Arabic speakers in the West and Arab region alike. Objectives To develop and validate the culturally-adapted version of the most recent M.I.N.I. 7.0.2 into Modern Standard Arabic—a form of Arabic commonly used across all Arab countries. Methods 102 participants were recruited between April 2019 to March 2020 at the Charité - Universitätsmedizin in Berlin. Symptoms were assessed with Arabic versions of rater-based and self-rated measures, including Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ). Arabic-speaking psychiatrists saw participants for diagnostic assessment. Results Cohen’s kappa (κ) values were moderate for major depression, and slight for post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as generalized anxiety disorder. Moreover, kappa values indicated moderate agreement between M.I.N.I.-AR and PHQ-9 for depression, as well as HTQ for post-traumatic stress disorder, respectively. Conclusion The translated and culturally adapted version of the M.I.N.I. addresses an existing need for a reliable, efficient, and effective comprehensive diagnostic tool using the most recent DSM-5 criteria in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). Based on the obtained results, only a validation of the depression module (Module A) of the M.I.N.I-AR was possible. Study outcomes also show evidence for the validation of Module H covering Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Potential valuable contributions can be extended to this translation and validation. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13033-021-00447-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carine Karnouk
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kerem Böge
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nico Lindheimer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dana Churbaji
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Sara Mohamad
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin, Germany
| | - Eric Hahn
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin, Germany
| | - Malek Bajbouj
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin, Germany.
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21
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Röhr S, Jung FU, Pabst A, Grochtdreis T, Dams J, Nagl M, Renner A, Hoffmann R, König HH, Kersting A, Riedel-Heller SG. A Self-Help App for Syrian Refugees With Posttraumatic Stress (Sanadak): Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2021; 9:e24807. [PMID: 33439140 PMCID: PMC7935251 DOI: 10.2196/24807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Syrian refugees residing in Germany often develop posttraumatic stress as a result of the Syrian civil war, their escape, and postmigration stressors. At the same time, there is a lack of adequate treatment options. The smartphone-based app Sanadak was developed to provide cognitive behavioral therapy–based self-help in the Arabic language for Syrian refugees with posttraumatic stress. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the app. Methods In a randomized controlled trial, eligible individuals were randomly allocated to the intervention group (IG; app use) or control group (CG; psychoeducational reading material). Data were collected during structured face-to-face interviews at 3 assessments (preintervention/baseline, postintervention/after 4 weeks, follow-up/after 4 months). Using adjusted mixed-effects linear regression models, changes in posttraumatic stress and secondary outcomes were investigated as intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analysis. Cost-effectiveness was evaluated based on adjusted mean total costs, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves using the net benefit approach. Results Of 170 screened individuals (aged 18 to 65 years), 133 were eligible and randomized to the IG (n=65) and CG (n=68). Although there was a pre-post reduction in posttraumatic stress, ITT showed no significant differences between the IG and CG after 4 weeks (Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale for DSM-5, Diff –0.90, 95% CI –0.24 to 0.47; P=.52) and after 4 months (Diff –0.39, 95% CI –3.24 to 2.46; P=.79). The same was true for PP. Regarding secondary outcomes, ITT indicated a treatment effect for self-stigma: after 4 weeks (Self-Stigma of Mental Illness Scale/SSMIS–stereotype agreement: d=0.86, 95% CI 0.46 to 1.25; stereotype application: d=0.60, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.99) and after 4 months (d=0.52, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.92; d=0.50, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.90), the IG showed significantly lower values in self-stigma than the CG. ITT showed no significant group differences in total costs and QALYs. The probability of cost-effectiveness was 81% for a willingness-to-pay of €0 per additional QALY but decreased with increasing willingness-to-pay. Conclusions Sanadak was not more effective in reducing mild to moderate posttraumatic stress in Syrian refugees than the control condition nor was it likely to be cost-effective. Therefore, Sanadak is not suitable as a standalone treatment. However, as the app usability was very good, no harms detected, and stigma significantly reduced, Sanadak has potential as a bridging aid within a stepped and collaborative care approach. Trial Registration German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00013782; https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00013782 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.1186/s12888-019-2110-y
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Röhr
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Franziska U Jung
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alexander Pabst
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thomas Grochtdreis
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Judith Dams
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michaela Nagl
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anna Renner
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Rahel Hoffmann
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hans-Helmut König
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anette Kersting
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Steffi G Riedel-Heller
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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22
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Rayes D, Karnouk C, Churbaji D, Walther L, Bajbouj M. Faith-Based Coping Among Arabic-Speaking Refugees Seeking Mental Health Services in Berlin, Germany: An Exploratory Qualitative Study. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:595979. [PMID: 33633605 PMCID: PMC7901912 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.595979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The benefits of faith-based coping or using religious and spiritual beliefs as a stabilizing force for interpreting stressful or distressing events are largely unexplored among the exodus of Arabic-speaking refugee populations from Muslim-majority countries, particularly those resettled in Europe. The present study aimed to explore the manifestation of faith-based coping strategies among Arabic-speaking refugee adults seeking mental healthcare services in Berlin, Germany and explore how favorable faith-based coping strategies can be optimized from a mental health service-delivery and broader integration perspective. Methods: A total of 17 qualitative interviews were conducted with Arabic-speaking refugee adults (six females, 11 males) seeking mental health services at the Charité Universitaetsmedizin in Berlin. Research questions aimed to solicit comprehensive perspectives from refugee adults on their mental health, with an emphasis on faith-based coping, and how this facilitated or impeded their integration into German society. Interview transcripts were translated to English from Arabic and analyzed using MAXQDA (2018) to highlight thematic patterns using a grounded theory approach. Results: Findings were structured into four themes, including: (I) faith-based coping methods during flight, (II) changes in faith practices upon arrival, (III) faith-based coping methods to address distress during integration, and (IV) advice for German mental healthcare providers. Participants who demonstrated a stronger commitment to faith were more likely to utilize faith-based coping strategies when seeking mental health services and facing the challenges of displacement and integration. Examples of faith-based coping included prayer, supplication, reciting scripture, and seeking help from a local religious leader. Conclusion: The findings suggest how faith and faith practices play a significant role in the mental health and integration of refugee populations in Germany and provide insight on how mental healthcare can be delivered in a culturally-sensitive manner, providing alternatives to the social, cultural, and linguistic barriers posed by the German health system. These findings are particularly relevant for mental health professionals, non-governmental organizations, and humanitarian aid agencies providing mental healthcare to Arabic-speaking populations recently resettled in Western contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Rayes
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Carine Karnouk
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dana Churbaji
- Institute of Psychology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Lena Walther
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Malek Bajbouj
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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23
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Bajbouj M, Ta TMT, Hassan G, Hahn E. Editorial: The Nine Grand Challenges in Global Mental Health. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:822299. [PMID: 35087435 PMCID: PMC8787075 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.822299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Malek Bajbouj
- Global Mental Health Section, Department of Psychiatry, Charité - Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thi Minh Tam Ta
- Global Mental Health Section, Department of Psychiatry, Charité - Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ghayda Hassan
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Eric Hahn
- Global Mental Health Section, Department of Psychiatry, Charité - Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Schneider A, Pfeiffer A, Conrad D, Elbert T, Kolassa IT, Wilker S. Does cumulative exposure to traumatic stressors predict treatment outcome of community-implemented exposure-based therapy for PTSD? Eur J Psychotraumatol 2020; 11:1789323. [PMID: 33062203 PMCID: PMC7534285 DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2020.1789323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is associated with high levels of functional impairments such as difficulties in academic or occupational performance and in social relationships. With an increasing number of traumatic event types experienced (trauma load), PTSD risk increases in a dose-dependent manner. Accordingly, high rates of PTSD can impair the reconstruction process in post-conflict societies. In order to meet these high needs for mental health services in societies with little access to professional care, task shifting approaches and community-based interventions have been suggested. Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) has been developed as a short and pragmatic exposure-based PTSD treatment that can be easily trained to lay personnel. Yet, it remains unclear whether NET can be effectively provided by trained lay counsellors even at high levels of trauma load. Objective: To investigate whether trauma load influences the treatment effectiveness of NET provided by trained and supervised local lay counsellors. Method: Linear mixed models were calculated to investigate the influence of trauma load on treatment effectiveness in a sample of N = 323 rebel war survivors from Northern Uganda with PTSD. Results: We found a strong reduction of PTSD symptoms following NET, which was not influenced by trauma load. However, individuals with higher levels of trauma load reported higher PTSD symptoms before therapy as well as 4 and 10 months following treatment completion compared to individuals with lower trauma load. Conclusions: Treatment with NET by lay counsellors is effective independent of trauma load. However, individuals with higher trauma load have a higher probability to show residual symptoms, which might require additional time, sessions or treatment modules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Schneider
- Clinical & Biological Psychology, Ulm University, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Anett Pfeiffer
- Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Daniela Conrad
- Clinical & Biological Psychology, Ulm University, Konstanz, Germany.,Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Thomas Elbert
- Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | | | - Sarah Wilker
- Clinical & Biological Psychology, Ulm University, Konstanz, Germany.,Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Bielefeld University, Konstanz, Germany
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Walther L, Kröger H, Tibubos AN, Ta TMT, von Scheve C, Schupp J, Hahn E, Bajbouj M. Psychological distress among refugees in Germany: a cross-sectional analysis of individual and contextual risk factors and potential consequences for integration using a nationally representative survey. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e033658. [PMID: 32819926 PMCID: PMC7440818 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Responding to the mental health needs of refugees remains a pressing challenge worldwide. We estimated the prevalence of psychological distress in a large refugee population in Germany and assessed its association with host country factors amenable to policy intervention and integration indicators. DESIGN A cross-sectional and population-based secondary analysis of the 2017 wave of the IAB-BAMF-SOEP refugee survey. SETTING Germany. PARTICIPANTS 2639 adult refugees who arrived in Germany between 2013 and 2016. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Psychological distress involving symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder was measured using the Refugee Health Screener-13. RESULTS Almost half of the population surveyed (41.2% (95% CI: 37.9% to 44.6%)) was affected by mild, moderate or severe levels of psychological distress. 10.9% (8.4% to 13.5%) of the population screened positive for severe distress indicative of an urgent need for care. Prevalence of distress was particularly high for females (53.0% (47.2% to 58.8%)), older refugees (aged ≥55, 70.4% (58.5% to 82.2%)) and Afghans (61.5% (53.5% to 69.5%)). Individuals under threat of deportation were at a greater risk of distress than protection status holder (risk ratio: 1.55 (95% CI: 1.14 to 2.10)), single males at a greater risk than males with nuclear families living in Germany (1.34 (1.04 to 1.74)) and those in refugee housing facilities at a greater risk than those in private housing (1.21 (1.02 to 1.43)). Distressed males had a lower likelihood of employment (0.67 (0.52 to 0.86)) and reduced participation in integration courses (0.90 (0.81 to 0.99)). A trend of reduced participation in educational programmes was observed in affected females (0.42 (0.17 to 1.01)). CONCLUSION The finding that a substantial minority of refugees in Germany exhibits symptoms of distress calls for an expansion of mental health services for this population. Service providers and policy-makers should consider the increased prevalence among female, older and Afghan refugees, as well as among single males, residents in housing facilities and those under threat of deportation. The associations between mental health and integration processes such as labour market, educational programme and integration course participation also warrant consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Walther
- Department of Psychiatry, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hannes Kröger
- Sozio-oekonomisches Panel, Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung eV, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ana Nanette Tibubos
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz, Mainz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
| | - Thi Minh Tam Ta
- Department of Psychiatry, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian von Scheve
- Sozio-oekonomisches Panel, Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung eV, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Sociology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jürgen Schupp
- Sozio-oekonomisches Panel, Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung eV, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Sociology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Eric Hahn
- Department of Psychiatry, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Malek Bajbouj
- Department of Psychiatry, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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26
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Böge K, Karnouk C, Hahn E, Demir Z, Bajbouj M. On Perceived Stress and Social Support: Depressive, Anxiety and Trauma-Related Symptoms in Arabic-Speaking Refugees in Jordan and Germany. Front Public Health 2020; 8:239. [PMID: 32695739 PMCID: PMC7338673 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.00239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Current literature points toward several challenges in the access to sufficient and effective psychosocial care for Syrian refugees in host settings. This study is a comparative investigation into the relationship between "perceived social stress" and "perceived social support" on three of the most prevalent symptom dimensions in Syrian refugees across two host capitals, Berlin and Amman. Eighty nine Syrians refugees were recruited between January 2017 and March 2018. Participants were contacted through local institutions and organizations collaborating with the Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Assessments include the PHQ-9, GAD-7, HTQ, MSPSS, and PSS. Primary analyses consist of non- or parametric tests and multiple linear regression analyses. Subsample analyses showed relevant depressive, anxiety and trauma-related symptoms. Significant differences in PTSD symptoms (p < 0.04) were found. Participants reported high perceived stress and moderate to high social support. Linear regressions revealed that perceived stress had a significant negative effect (p < 0.01) on clinical outcomes in both subsamples. Perceived social support had a positive influence on depressive (p = 0.02) and PTSD symptoms (p = 0.04) for participants in Berlin. Analyses revealed significant positive effects of "significant others" (p = 0.05) on depressive- in Berlin and "family" (p = 0.03) support for PTSD symptoms in Amman. Study results show that levels of "perceived stress" appear to be the same across different host countries, whereas types of social support and their effect on mental health differ significantly depending on the host setting. Outcomes may guide future comparative study designs and investigations to promote well-being, integration, and the development of effective social support structures for the diverse needs of Arabic-speaking refugees.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Malek Bajbouj
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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27
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Lindheimer N, Karnouk C, Hahn E, Churbaji D, Schilz L, Rayes D, Bajbouj M, Böge K. Exploring the Representation of Depressive Symptoms and the Influence of Stigma in Arabic-Speaking Refugee Outpatients. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:579057. [PMID: 33281643 PMCID: PMC7689084 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.579057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of distressed refugees from the Arab world is relatively high in Germany and other host countries worldwide. For this specific population, substantial challenges and barriers have already been identified that hamper access to Germany's health care system. This study aims to contribute to this line of research by exploring the representation of depressive symptoms, both somatic and psychological, in order to inform clinicians about the most prevalent symptoms reported by Arabic-speaking refugee outpatients. Furthermore, this paper investigates the longstanding claim that mental health stigma fosters the expression of bodily distress. For these purposes, a total of 100 Arabic-speaking refugee outpatients, mostly Syrians, were recruited in Berlin, Germany. Somatic and psychological symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) 15 and 9, while stigma was assessed with the Brief Version of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI-10). Study results show that both somatic and psychological symptom severity was moderate while sleeping problems and energy loss were the most reported symptoms across both scales. Stigma was low and showed no association with somatic complaints in a multiple regression analysis, but was associated with more psychological symptoms. A principal factor extraction on the PHQ-15 items revealed five independent, somatic symptom clusters that were interpreted considering the rich poetic resources of the Arabic language. In conclusion, both somatic and psychological symptoms were commonly reported by Arabic-speaking refugees with symptoms of depression. Whereas, stigma does not seem to influence the expression of somatic symptoms, the present results provide first empirical indications for the relationship of symptom expression with the use of explanatory models and conceptualizations of mental illness within the Arabic culture and language. Future research efforts should be dedicated to enhancing our understanding of mental health care needs in this population as well as to exploring other mediators that might help explain the varying degree of somatic symptoms in depression across cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nico Lindheimer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carine Karnouk
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Eric Hahn
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dana Churbaji
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Laura Schilz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Diana Rayes
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Malek Bajbouj
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kerem Böge
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
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28
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Spanhel K, Schweizer JS, Wirsching D, Lehr D, Baumeister H, Bengel J, Sander L. Cultural adaptation of internet interventions for refugees: Results from a user experience study in Germany. Internet Interv 2019; 18:100252. [PMID: 31890608 PMCID: PMC6926246 DOI: 10.1016/j.invent.2019.100252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The estimated number of refugees worldwide resulting from persecution, conflict, violence, or human rights violations reached 25.4 million in 2017. An increased prevalence of mental disorders combined with language and socio-cultural barriers pose a challenge for healthcare systems. Internet-based interventions can help to meet this challenge. For the effective use of such interventions in refugees, cultural adaptations are necessary. The variety of their cultural backgrounds thereby is particularly challenging. METHODS We conducted this explorative qualitative study in order to identify elements of Internet-based interventions that need cultural adaptation to be suitable for refugees. Six refugees from Syria, Iran, Eritrea, Algeria, and Iraq, and six healthcare providers (two social workers, two psychologists, one physiotherapist, one physician) working with refugees went through an intervention for individuals with sleeping problems (eSano Sleep-e). Possible threats to user experience were identified using the Think Aloud method and semi-structured interviews. Statements were analysed based on the grounded theory method. RESULTS Results indicate the necessity to adapt the intervention to the specifics of refugees including aspects related to the flight (i.e., past and current stressors) and non-western characteristics (i.e., habits, disease and treatment concepts). Elements of adaptation should include pictures, role models, language, psychoeducational elements, structure of modules, and format of presentation. CONCLUSIONS Cultural adaptation can be used to facilitate the identification with an intervention, which seems crucial to increase the acceptance among refugees. In spite of their diverse cultural backgrounds, it appears feasible to create interventions that allow identification by refugees from different home countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Spanhel
- Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, University of Freiburg, Engelbergerstr. 41, D-79085 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Samuel Schweizer
- Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, University of Freiburg, Engelbergerstr. 41, D-79085 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dorothea Wirsching
- Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, University of Freiburg, Engelbergerstr. 41, D-79085 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dirk Lehr
- Department of Health Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, D-21335 Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Harald Baumeister
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, D-89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Juergen Bengel
- Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, University of Freiburg, Engelbergerstr. 41, D-79085 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lasse Sander
- Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, University of Freiburg, Engelbergerstr. 41, D-79085 Freiburg, Germany
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