1
|
Maercker A, Bachem R, Mutuyimana C, Eberle D. [Toward Cultural Scripts of Trauma Sequelae]. Psychother Psychosom Med Psychol 2024; 74:276-285. [PMID: 38580308 DOI: 10.1055/a-2276-4992] [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: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The concept of cultural scripts has proven to be very useful for describing depression-like psychological complaints in different cultural regions of the world. The article presents the galaxy model and its implementation in the model of cultural scripts theoretically for the first time and connects these with cultural psychological value research. A new, extensive series of research projects aims to investigate post-trauma -related psychological complaints in various regions of the world. METHODS The work in two countries/regions began with focus groups in which elements of cultural scripts were collected by traumatized clients and/or by (therapeutic) experts. For this purpose, a theory-based framework of possible post-traumatic script elements was provided. In Switzerland, focus groups were conducted with patients and experts. Focus groups were conducted with genocide survivors and other trauma victims in Rwanda and three East African countries. The evaluation was semi-quantitative. RESULTS In Switzerland, around 50 symptoms and changes were mentioned as script elements (e. g. still having to function). Approximately 100 symptoms and changes were mentioned as script elements in East Africa (e. g. loss of dignity). The first temporal connections (i. e. strong scripts) were found for the Swiss scripts (e. g. self-devaluation - urge to function). In the East African study, cultural value orientations underlying the script groupings were also assessed (e. g. community reputation). DISCUSSION The illustrative results presented here demonstrate the galaxy model and the suitability of the cultural script concept for recording the effects of trauma. There are differences and similarities in the two world regions examined so far. Further steps at the two study sites will be the temporal connections and the relationships to value orientations. The studies will be started at the other study sites in the following years.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Maercker
- Psychopathologie und Klinische Intervention, Universität Zürich, Schweiz
| | - Rahel Bachem
- Psychopathologie und Klinische Intervention, Universität Zürich, Schweiz
| | | | - David Eberle
- Psychopathologie und Klinische Intervention, Universität Zürich, Schweiz
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hanáková K, Lindberg LG, Carlsson J. Sex differences in trauma exposure and PTSD symptomatology among refugees, internally displaced people, and asylum seekers: A systematic literature review. Psychiatry Res 2024; 339:116014. [PMID: 38906050 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.116014] [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: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
This systematic review aimed to explore sex differences in exposure to traumatic events and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology among refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and asylum seekers. A comprehensive search was conducted across three databases (PubMed, PsychInfo, and Embase), which yielded 2,255 studies. A total of 15 studies were included for trauma exposure assessment, and 8 studies for PTSD symptomatology assessment. The review revealed significant sex differences in trauma exposure, with women experiencing higher rates of sexual violence, while men faced greater risks of imprisonment and torture. In terms of PTSD symptomatology, our findings showed that women tend to exhibit greater symptoms of arousal and specific symptoms of avoidance such as loss of interest and avoidance of activities reminding of trauma, while men were more likely to experience estrangement and detachment. Findings regarding symptoms of reexperiencing were not entirely consistent. This review emphasizes the importance of considering sex-specific symptoms in trauma assessment among displaced populations and advocates for further research into targeted interventions, especially regarding sexual violence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Klára Hanáková
- Mental Health Center, Ballerup, Copenhagen University Hospital - Mental Health Services CPH, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Laura Glahder Lindberg
- Mental Health Center, Ballerup, Copenhagen University Hospital - Mental Health Services CPH, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jessica Carlsson
- Mental Health Center, Ballerup, Copenhagen University Hospital - Mental Health Services CPH, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kankaanpää R, Vänskä M, Opaas M, Spaas C, Derluyn I, Jervelund SS, Skovdal M, Durbeej N, Osman F, De Haene L, de Smet S, Andersen AJ, Hilden PK, Verelst A, Peltonen K. Psychometric properties of the Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES-8) among refugee adolescents from Afghanistan, Syria, and Somalia. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2024; 15:2349445. [PMID: 38753438 PMCID: PMC11100434 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2024.2349445] [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: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: High levels of post-traumatic stress are well documented among refugees. Yet, refugee adolescents display high heterogeneity in their type of trauma and symptom levels.Objective: Following the recurrent plea for validated trauma screening tools, this study investigated the psychometric properties of the Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES-8) among refugee adolescents from Afghanistan (n = 148), Syria (n = 234), and Somalia (n = 175) living in Europe.Method: The model fit for the confirmatory factor structures was tested, as well as measurement invariance between the three groups. The robustness of results was evaluated by testing measurement invariance between recently arrived and settled adolescents, and between different response labelling options. Reliability (α, ω, and ordinal α), criterion validity, and prevalence estimates were calculated.Results: The intrusion subscale showed a better stable model fit than the avoidance subscale, but the two-factor structure was mainly supported. Configural measurement invariance was achieved between Afghan and Somali adolescents, and strong measurement invariance between Syrian and Somali adolescents. The results were robust considering the time living in the host country and response labelling styles. Reliability was low among Afghan and Syrian adolescents (.717-.856), whereas it was higher among Somali adolescents (.831-.887). The total score had medium-sized correlations with emotional problems (.303-.418) and low correlations with hyperactivity (.077-.155). There were statistically significant differences in symptom prevalence: Afghan adolescents had higher prevalence (55.5%) than Syrian (42.8%) and Somali (37%) adolescents, and unaccompanied refugee minors had higher symptom prevalence (63.5%) than accompanied adolescents (40.7%).Conclusions: This study mostly supports the use of the CRIES-8 among adolescents from Afghanistan, Syria, and Somalia, and even comparative analyses of group means. Variation in reliability estimates, however, makes diagnostic predictions difficult, as the risk of misclassification is high.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Reeta Kankaanpää
- Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- INVEST Research Flagship Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Mervi Vänskä
- Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Marianne Opaas
- Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, NKVTS, Oslo, Norway
| | - Caroline Spaas
- Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ilse Derluyn
- Centre for the Social Study of Migration and Refugees, Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Morten Skovdal
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Natalie Durbeej
- Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Fatumo Osman
- Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- School of Health and Welfare, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden
| | - Lucia De Haene
- Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sofie de Smet
- Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Arnfinn J. Andersen
- Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, NKVTS, Oslo, Norway
| | - Per Kristian Hilden
- Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, NKVTS, Oslo, Norway
| | - An Verelst
- Centre for the Social Study of Migration and Refugees, Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kirsi Peltonen
- INVEST Research Flagship Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bachem R, Mazza A, Eberle DJ, Maercker A. A new approach to cultural scripts of trauma sequelae assessment: The sample case of Switzerland. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301645. [PMID: 38626140 PMCID: PMC11020718 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The novel concept of cultural scripts of trauma sequelae captures culture-specific expressions of posttraumatic distress (e.g., cognitive, emotional, interpersonal, psychosomatic changes) and their temporal associations. Cultural scripts of trauma sequelae complement pan-cultural (etic) diagnoses, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD, as well as the cultural syndromes concept. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to develop the cultural scripts of trauma inventory (CSTI) for German-speaking Switzerland and to explore temporal associations of script elements. METHOD Five semi-structured focus groups were conducted with psychotraumatologists (n = 8) and Swiss trauma survivors (n = 7). The interview schedule included open questions about different domains of potential posttraumatic changes (emotions, cognitions, worldviews, interpersonal relationships, body-related experiences, behavior, and growth). Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS The Swiss CSTI includes 57 emic elements that represent salient trauma sequelae (30 conformed with a theoretically derived item pool, 27 were newly phrased). Temporal script associations were visualized in a network, whereby self-deprecation, the urge to function and overcompensate, and the urge to hide and endure suffering had the highest number of connections. CONCLUSION While many posttraumatic changes identified in the present work seem to mirror pan-cultural phenomena represented in the Complex PTSD concept (e.g., self-deprecation), others (e.g., urge to function and perform, urge to hide and endure suffering) may be prominently related to Swiss culture with its value orientations. Knowledge about cultural scripts of trauma sequelae may provide a culture-specific framework that can help to understand individual experiences of distress and enable mental health practitioners to administer culturally sensitive interventions. Pending further validation, the Swiss CSTI bears the potential to advance culture-sensitive assessment of trauma sequelae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rahel Bachem
- Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Amelie Mazza
- Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - David J. Eberle
- Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Maercker
- Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Haering S, Kooistra MJ, Bourey C, Chimed-Ochir U, Doubková N, Hoeboer CM, Lathan EC, Christie H, de Haan A. Exploring transdiagnostic stress and trauma-related symptoms across the world: a latent class analysis. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2024; 15:2318190. [PMID: 38420969 PMCID: PMC10906118 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2024.2318190] [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: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Although trauma exposure is universally prevalent, the ways in which individuals respond to potentially traumatic events vary. Between-country differences have been identified as affecting the development and manifestation of transdiagnostic psychological symptoms, but it remains unclear how stress and trauma-related transdiagnostic symptoms and risk patterns differ based on geographic region.Objective: To explore whether there are distinct classes of stress and trauma-related transdiagnostic symptoms and to determine predictors of class membership in a global sample.Method: Participants (N = 8675) from 115 different countries were recruited online between 2020-2022 and completed the Global Psychotrauma Screen, which assesses stress and trauma exposure, related symptoms, and risk factors. A latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify classes of stress and trauma-related symptoms per world region (African States, Asia-Pacific States, Eastern European States, Latin American and Caribbean States, Western European and Other States, and North America) and the total sample. Likelihood of class membership was assessed based on demographics, characteristics of the potentially traumatic event, and potential risk factors across the world regions.Results: Similar class compositions were observed across regions. A joint latent class analysis identified three classes that differed by symptom severity (i.e. high, moderate, low). Multinomial logistic regression analyses revealed several factors that conferred greater risk for experiencing higher levels of symptoms, including geographic region, gender, and lack of social support, among others.Conclusions: Stress and trauma-related symptoms seem to be similarly transdiagnostic across the world, supporting the value of a transdiagnostic assessment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Haering
- Clinical Psychological Intervention, Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Gender in Medicine, Charité Center for Health and Human Sciences, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marike J. Kooistra
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Christine Bourey
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ulziimaa Chimed-Ochir
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA
| | - Nikola Doubková
- Clinical Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Education, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Chris M. Hoeboer
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Emma C. Lathan
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | | | - Anke de Haan
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Division of Child and Adolescent Health Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Psychosomatics and Psychiatry, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Choe R, Lardier DT, Hess JM, Blackwell MA, Amer S, Ndayisenga M, Deewa S, Isakson B, Goodkind JR. Measuring culturally and contextually specific distress among Afghan, Iraqi, and Great Lakes African refugees. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPSYCHIATRY 2024; 94:246-261. [PMID: 38227460 PMCID: PMC11234504 DOI: 10.1037/ort0000718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Culturally and contextually valid measurement of psychological distress is critical, given the increasing numbers of forcibly displaced people and transnational migration. This study replicates an inductive process that elicited culturally specific expressions, understandings, and idioms of distress among Afghans to develop culturally specific measures of distress for Great Lakes Africans and Iraqis and expands this methodology to include a focus on the contexts of refugees resettled in the United States. To create the measures, we adapted Miller et al.'s (2006) model for the Afghan Symptom Checklist (ASCL) and conducted 18 semistructured qualitative interviews that attended to refugees' multiple settings; the impact of potentially traumatic events initially and postresettlement; and the experiences and impact of resettlement stressors. We tested the newly developed measures and existing ASCL with 280 recently resettled refugees (< 3 years) from Afghanistan, the Great Lakes region of Africa, and Iraq to assess factor structure, reliability, and construct validity. We successfully replicated and adapted a process for creating culturally specific measures of distress to create reliable and valid scales that consider culturally and contextually specific distress among several groups of forcibly displaced people. Our results highlight the salience of individuals' social contexts and how they are manifested as idioms of distress, bringing together two key areas of research: the social construction of mental health and social determinants of mental health. These findings have implications for improving measurement of psychological distress and for developing multilevel interventions that are culturally resonant and address factors beyond the individual level. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryeora Choe
- Department of Sociology, University of New Mexico
| | - David T Lardier
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Brian Isakson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Thomas FC, Divirgilio R, Jayawickreme N, Sivayokan S, McShane K, Jayawickreme E. Coping with the long-term impact of civil strife: A grief-centered analysis of Tamil Sri Lankan communities affected by ethnopolitical conflict. Appl Psychol Health Well Being 2023. [PMID: 37712290 DOI: 10.1111/aphw.12491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Limited research has examined coping mechanisms in response to chronic war-related stressors, as opposed to war-exposure trauma. The current study sought to investigate the types of losses experienced by communities affected by the Sri Lankan conflict, how participants responded to their losses, and what coping mechanisms they employed. Data consisted of interviews from two independent investigations conducted following the end of the conflict in Northern Sri Lanka (total N = 103). Interview transcripts were analyzed using a directed content analysis approach. Participants most frequently described experiencing material loss and loss of loved ones. Relatedly, participants commonly reported experiencing ambiguous loss, that is, living with the uncertainty of their loved one's death. These losses were particularly pronounced by gender, with women experiencing higher rates of loss. Common coping strategies included support-seeking, including informal support from social networks and religion, and formal mental health services. Additionally, participants described a range of longer term coping strategies from establishing a future-oriented cognitive style to a sense of helplessness and resignation. The findings shed light on how conflict-affected groups cope with profound loss. We provide recommendations for how such findings can inform grief-related clinical interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fiona C Thomas
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard Divirgilio
- Department of Psychology, School of Liberal Arts, Manhattan College, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Nuwan Jayawickreme
- Department of Psychology, School of Liberal Arts, Manhattan College, Bronx, New York, USA
| | | | - Kelly McShane
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Human Resource Management and Organizational Behaviour, Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eranda Jayawickreme
- Department of Psychology and Program for Leadership and Character, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Killikelly C, Maercker A. The cultural supplement: A new method for assessing culturally relevant prolonged grief disorder symptoms. CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY IN EUROPE 2023; 5:e7655. [PMID: 37065001 PMCID: PMC10103155 DOI: 10.32872/cpe.7655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background
The new diagnosis of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is both an opportunity and a challenge for researchers, clinicians, and bereaved individuals. The latest definition of PGD includes a refreshing and novel feature: the cultural caveat, i.e., clinicians must determine that the grief presentation is more severe and of longer duration than would be expected by an individual’s culture and context. Currently, there are no guidelines on how to operationalize the cultural caveat in mental health care settings.
Method
To respond to this important demand we have developed, piloted, and tested the cultural supplement module of the International Prolonged Grief Disorder scale (IPGDS). The cultural supplement aims to provide clinicians with a catalogue of culturally relevant symptoms of grief that indicate probable PGD alongside a simple framework for cultural adaptation for use in specific clinical settings.
Results
In this short report we outline the rationale and aim of the cultural supplement and provide a summary of our latest validation studies of the IPGDS with bereaved German-speaking, Chinese and Swiss migrant individuals. We also provide a step-by-step framework for adaptation of the cultural supplement that clinicians and researchers may use when working with different cultural groups.
Conclusion
To date, this is the first PGD questionnaire based on the ICD-11, and the first to include a cultural supplement that can be adapted to different contexts and groups. This cultural supplement will provide clinicians and researchers an easy-to-use assessment tool with the aim to improve the global applicability of the ICD-11 PGD definition.
Collapse
|
9
|
Claudius M, Shino EN, Job S, Hofmann D, Thalmayer AG. Still Standing Inside: A Local Idiom Related to Trauma among Namibian Speakers of Khoekhoegowab. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14323. [PMID: 36361207 PMCID: PMC9657148 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Euro-centric psychiatric conceptualizations often ignore the interplay of local with universal factors in psychological suffering. Emic, locally focused perspectives can enrich etic knowledge to provide culturally sensitive care and to better elucidate the role of culture in mental illness. This study explored the idiom Tsûsa ǃNaeǃkhais xa hâǃnâ/mâǃnâ/ǂgâǃnâhe hâ (a terrible event has entered a person and remains standing inside), which was understood to relate to experiences of trauma and post-traumatic stress, among speakers of Khoekhoegowab, a southern-African click language. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 participants from six urban and rural communities in Namibia. Questions probed perceptions of the idiom in terms of etiology, course, and risk and resilience factors from a socio-ecological framework. Five key themes were identified using thematic analysis: origin in a shocking event; intrusive recurrence of memories, "it keeps on coming back"; the close interplay between mental and physical suffering; the importance of active engagement in healing through prayer and acceptance; and the role of the community in both alleviating and amplifying distress. Our findings highlight local norms and strategies for adaptive coping, and the benefits of exploring local idioms to elucidate the braiding together of universal and cultural elements in psychological distress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Milena Claudius
- Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Psychology and Professional Counseling, Webster University Geneva, 1293 Bellevue, Switzerland
| | - Elizabeth N. Shino
- Department of Psychology and Social Work, Faculty of Health Sciences & Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Windhoek 10026, Namibia
| | - Sylvanus Job
- Department of Humanities and Arts, Faculty of Education & Human Sciences, University of Namibia, Windhoek 10026, Namibia
| | - Daniel Hofmann
- Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, 8050 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Amber Gayle Thalmayer
- Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, 8050 Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Rasmussen A, Leon M, Elklit A. Cross-Cultural Measurement Invariance of the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire Across Nine Adolescent Samples. Assessment 2022:10731911221101912. [PMID: 35699448 DOI: 10.1177/10731911221101912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Trauma researchers often make claims about the severity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) across populations, and yet cross-cultural measurement invariance (MI) is rarely assessed. Nine youth samples with Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ) responses were grouped based on sampling strategy used into two sets: representative (Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Lithuania, n = 1,457), and convenience (Greenland, India, Kenya, Malaysia, and Uganda, n = 2,036). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to gauge whether configural, metric, scalar, and residual invariance of different models held between national samples within the two sets. Configural invariance held for most PTSD models in convenience samples, not in representative samples. Metric invariance was less common, and scalar and residual in general did not hold. Cultural similarity between samples seemed to be associated with invariance. Findings suggest that although PTSD symptoms may cluster similarly across culturally distal groups, comparisons of the severity of symptoms using the HTQ across adolescent samples are not likely valid.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ask Elklit
- University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Comparing Western symptoms of depression with Arabic idioms of distress: A qualitative study. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-020-00829-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
|
12
|
Heim E, Karatzias T, Maercker A. Cultural concepts of distress and complex PTSD: Future directions for research and treatment. Clin Psychol Rev 2022; 93:102143. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
|
13
|
Reporting Cultural Adaptation in Psychological Trials – The RECAPT criteria. CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY IN EUROPE 2021; 3:e6351. [PMID: 36405678 PMCID: PMC9670826 DOI: 10.32872/cpe.6351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
There is a lack of empirical evidence on the level of cultural adaptation required for psychological interventions developed in Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) societies to be effective for the treatment of common mental disorders among culturally and ethnically diverse groups. This lack of evidence is partly due to insufficient documentation of cultural adaptation in psychological trials. Standardised documentation is needed in order to enhance empirical and meta-analytic evidence.
Process
A “Task force for cultural adaptation of mental health interventions for refugees” was established to harmonise and document the cultural adaptation process across several randomised controlled trials testing psychological interventions for mental health among refugee populations in Germany. Based on the collected experiences, a sub-group of the task force developed the reporting criteria presented in this paper. Thereafter, an online survey with international experts in cultural adaptation of psychological interventions was conducted, including two rounds of feedback.
Results
The consolidation process resulted in eleven reporting criteria to guide and document the process of cultural adaptation of psychological interventions in clinical trials. A template for documenting this process is provided. The eleven criteria are structured along A) Set-up; B) Formative research methods; C) Intervention adaptation; D) Measuring outcomes and implementation.
Conclusions
Reporting on cultural adaptation more consistently in future psychological trials will hopefully improve the quality of evidence and contribute to examining the effect of cultural adaptation on treatment efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability.
Collapse
|
14
|
Jannesari S, Lotito C, Turrini G, Oram S, Barbui C. How does context influence the delivery of mental health interventions for asylum seekers and refugees in low- and middle-income countries? A qualitative systematic review. Int J Ment Health Syst 2021; 15:80. [PMID: 34702334 PMCID: PMC8546788 DOI: 10.1186/s13033-021-00501-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) host the majority of the world’s refugees. Evidence suggests that refugees and asylum seekers have high mental health needs compared to the host country population. However, they face many social, economic and culture barriers to receiving mental health care and benefitting from mental health interventions. This paper examines how these contextual factors affect the implementation of mental health interventions for refugees and asylum seekers in LMICs. Methods We conducted a qualitative systematic review searching 11 databases and 24 relevant government and non-governmental organisation (NGO) websites. We spoke with academic experts and NGO professionals for recommendations, and conducted forwards and backwards citation tracking. Results From 2055 records in abstract and title screening, and then 99 in full-text screening, 18 eligible studies were identified. Qualitative thematic synthesis was conducted on eligible papers. Three main thematic clusters were identified around: (1) support during a time of pressure and insecurity, and the need for intervention flexibility through facilitator and participant autonomy; (2) different cultural conceptions of mental health, and how interventions negotiated these differences; and (3) the importance of facilitator skills, knowledge, characteristics and relationships to intervention implementation. Conclusion Evidence suggests that intervention coordinators and developers should continue to: (1) think broadly about the range of social influences on mental health, addressing structural issues where possible; (2) offer flexibility with intervention style, content and timings; and (3) encourage building research capacity in LMICs while acknowledging pre-existing mental health knowledge and practice. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13033-021-00501-y.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sohail Jannesari
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Health Services and Population Research, King's College London, David Goldberg Building, Kings College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
| | - Claudia Lotito
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Piazzale L.A. Scuro, 10, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Giulia Turrini
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Piazzale L.A. Scuro, 10, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Siân Oram
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Health Services and Population Research, King's College London, David Goldberg Building, Kings College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Corrado Barbui
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Piazzale L.A. Scuro, 10, 37134, Verona, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Sulaiman-Hill RC, Porter R, Tanveer S, Boden J, Beaglehole B, Schluter PJ, Dean S, Bell C. Psychosocial impacts on the Christchurch Muslim community following the 15 March terrorist attacks: a mixed-methods study protocol. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e055413. [PMID: 34598996 PMCID: PMC8488282 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION On 15 March 2019, a white supremacist gunman opened fire in two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, during Friday prayers, killing 51 people and injuring 40. The event was witnessed by at least 250 survivors and also live streamed on social media, leading to widespread and repeated exposure within the community. It is expected that survivors, families and community members will be at increased risk of developing mental disorders due to the scale and violence of these attacks.This protocol describes the first phase of a proposed longitudinal study to screen and assess the long-term impacts of the terrorist attack on members of the Christchurch Muslim community, to determine clinical need and facilitate access to appropriate interventions and to gain insights into working with such a traumatised, ethnically diverse population. It has been developed in close collaboration with members of that community. METHODS AND ANALYSIS A mixed-method design is described, combining self-report measures with a clinician-administered diagnostic interview. Participants include Christchurch Muslims aged 18 years and over, with a target sample size of n=200. Analyses will determine prevalence of major mental disorders, while regression analyses will model the relationship between pre-event features, trauma exposure and mental disorders. A small number of participants, stratified by exposure type, will also take part in a qualitative interview in English. All study information and self-report measures are provided in translations based on the ethnolinguistic composition of the group and are available in paper and online versions. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical approval was granted by the New Zealand Health and Disability Ethics Committee 19/NTA/147. All participants provide informed consent, either written or online via REDCap software. The study is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry. Findings will be disseminated initially to the impacted community, then by publication in scientific journals, presentations and to government agencies. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ACTRN12620000909921.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard Porter
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Sandila Tanveer
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Joseph Boden
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Ben Beaglehole
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Philip J Schluter
- School of Health Science, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Shaystah Dean
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Caroline Bell
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Otake Y, Tamming T. Sociality and temporality in local experiences of distress and healing: Ethnographic research in northern Rwanda. Transcult Psychiatry 2021; 58:546-560. [PMID: 33045928 PMCID: PMC8385584 DOI: 10.1177/1363461520949670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Prior studies have traced sociality and temporality as significant features of African healing. However, association between the two has not been explicitly investigated. This paper explores how sociality and temporality are associated in local experiences of distress and healing among northern Rwandans. The ethnographic research, including in-depth interviews, focus-group discussions and participant observation, was conducted in 2015-2016, with 43 participants from the Musanze district who have suffered from not only the genocide but also post-genocide massacres. Findings identified common local idioms of distress: ibikomere (wounded feelings), ihungabana (mental disturbances), ihahamuka (trauma), and kurwara mu mutwe (illness of the head, severe mental illness). One stage of distress was perceived to develop into another, slightly more serious than the previous. Social isolation played a significant role in the development as it activated 'remembering' and 'thinking too much' about the past and worsened symptoms. Subsequently, healing was experienced through social reconnection and a shift of time orientation from the past to the future; the healing experience traced a process of leaving the past behind, moving forwards and creating a future through community involvement. The experiences of distress and healing in this population were explained by two axes, i.e. sociality (isolation - reconnection) and temporality (past - future), which are associated with each other. Given the sociality-temporality association in African post-war healing, the study highlights that assistant programmes that facilitate social practice and future creation can be therapeutic and be an alternative for people who cannot benefit from talking-based and trauma-focused approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Teisi Tamming
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Horn R, Jailobaeva K, Arakelyan S, Ager A. The development of a contextually appropriate measure of psychological distress in Sierra Leone. BMC Psychol 2021; 9:108. [PMID: 34289908 PMCID: PMC8294262 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-021-00610-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Studies of psychological distress in Sierra Leone have typically used measures which were developed for use in other contexts, and which often have not been adapted or validated for use in Sierra Leone. This has resulted in a lack of reliable information about the patterns of psychological distress within the population, which is a barrier to the development of effective and appropriate mental health services. The aim of the study was to develop a locally-appropriate measure of psychological distress for Sierra Leone. Methods The new measure consists of two instruments: the Sierra Leone Psychological Distress Scale (SLPDS) and a gendered measure of ability to carry out daily tasks—a Function scale—as an indication of the severity of distress. A three-phase mixed methods exploratory sequential study was conducted. Phase 1 was item generation and testing, leading to the development of a set of potential items for both instruments. Phase 2 was a small pilot study (N = 202) leading to the selection of the final set of items for both measures. Phase 3 was a validation phase where the SLPDS and the Function scale were administered with a larger sample of 904 respondents. Item analysis was used to assess the internal consistency of the scales, and Exploratory Factor Analysis to explore the properties of the SLPDS. Results Exploratory factor analysis using the principal axis factoring with an oblique rotation identified a three-factor structure for the 18-item SLPDS. Internal consistency for the SLPDS (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.89) and three subscales was good (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.73). The internal reliability of the male and female versions of the Function scale was also found to be acceptable (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.90 for the female scale and 0.79 for the male scale). Conclusions Together the SLPD and Function scales provide a locally-validated tool which will enable government bodies and local and international non-governmental organisations in Sierra Leone to assess mental health and psychosocial needs. This will support both effective service provision and the evaluation of initiatives designed to improve mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40359-021-00610-w.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Horn
- NIHR Global Health Research Unit On Health in Situations of Fragility, Institute for Global Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Kanykey Jailobaeva
- NIHR Global Health Research Unit On Health in Situations of Fragility, Institute for Global Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Stella Arakelyan
- NIHR Global Health Research Unit On Health in Situations of Fragility, Institute for Global Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Alastair Ager
- NIHR Global Health Research Unit On Health in Situations of Fragility, Institute for Global Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Gilmoor AR, Vallath S, Peters RMH, van der Ben D, Ng L. Adapting the Trauma History Questionnaire for use in a population of homeless people with severe mental illness in Tamil Nadu, India: qualitative study. BJPsych Open 2021; 7:e122. [PMID: 34218840 PMCID: PMC8280791 DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2021.952] [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: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Trauma History Questionnaire (THQ) is one of the most widely used traumatic event inventories, but its lack of validation makes it unsuitable for the millions of homeless people with severe mental illness in India, who are particularly vulnerable to trauma exposure. AIMS To translate and culturally adapt the THQ for use in a population of homeless people with severe mental illness in Tamil Nadu, India. METHOD We used Herdman et al's model of cultural equivalence to conduct an in-depth qualitative assessment of the cultural validity of the THQ. Following several translations, conceptual, item, semantic and operational equivalence of the THQ was assessed through four focus groups with user-survivors (n = 20) and two focus groups with mental health professionals (n = 11). RESULTS Several adaptations, including the addition of 18 items about relationships, homelessness and mental illness, were necessary to improve cultural validity. Three items, such as rape, were removed for reasons of irrelevance or cultural insensitivity. Items like 'adultery' and 'mental illness' were reworded to 'extramarital affair' and 'mental health problem', respectively, to capture the cultural nuances of the Tamil language. Findings revealed a divergence in views on tool acceptability between user-survivors, who felt empowered to voice their experiences, and mental health professionals, who were concerned for patient well-being. Providing a sense of pride and autonomy, user-survivors preferred self-administration, whereas mental health professionals preferred rater administration. CONCLUSIONS Culture significantly affects what types of events are considered traumatic, highlighting the importance of cultural validation of instruments for use in novel populations and settings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R Gilmoor
- Department of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Smriti Vallath
- Department of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Psychology, Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health, India; and The Banyan, India
| | - Ruth M H Peters
- Department of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands; and Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, USA
| | | | - Lauren Ng
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, USA; and Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Yuval K, Aizik-Reebs A, Lurie I, Demoz D, Bernstein A. A Functional Network Perspective on Posttraumatic Stress in Refugees: Implications for Theory, Classification, Assessment, and Intervention. Transcult Psychiatry 2021; 58:268-282. [PMID: 33292082 DOI: 10.1177/1363461520965436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
There is an important, long-standing debate regarding the universality vs. specificity of trauma-related mental health symptoms in socio-culturally and linguistically diverse population groups, such as refugees and asylum seekers. Network theory, an emerging development in the field of psychological science, provides a novel data analytic methodology to evaluate and empirically examine long-standing questions about the structure and function of posttraumatic stress symptoms. We sought to empirically model the functional network of posttraumatic stress symptoms among East African refugees who survived multiple potentially traumatic events. A sample of 148 Sudanese and Eritrean male asylum seekers (M(SD)age = 32.60(7.13) were recruited from the community in Israel. The nature and function(s) of posttraumatic symptoms (Harvard Trauma Questionnaire) were modeled using regularized partial correlation models to derive a network of symptoms. Spinglass and exploratory graph analysis walktrap algorithms were then used to identify functional "circuits of symptoms" or clusters of nodes within the network. Analyses revealed a functional symptom circuitry that shares features with the predominant western model of posttraumatic stress disorder; as well as unique functional clusters of symptoms inconsistent with nosology and symptomatology observed in studies of Western populations. Findings may have important implications for theory, classification, assessment, candidate mechanisms that may drive and maintain posttraumatic stress, and in turn may inform prevention or treatment for socio-culturally diverse forcibly displaced population groups.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ido Lurie
- Shalvata Mental Health Center, Hod HaSharon, Israel and Department of Psychiatry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
A network analysis of posttraumatic stress symptoms among help-seeking refugees in Kenya. J Anxiety Disord 2021; 78:102358. [PMID: 33476983 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2021.102358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
We analyzed the network structure of DSM-IV PTSD symptoms among 2792 help-seeking Central and East African refugees in Kenya exposed to multiple, severe traumatic events and on-going stressors. To some extent, our results reproduced structures identified among clinical populations in Europe, including strong links within traditional symptom clusters, such as between avoidance of thoughts and situations, and hypervigilance and startling. However, we found substantial differences in most central symptoms, with detachment and disinterest far less and emotional numbing and concentration problems more central in our analyses. Our networks did not reproduce the common finding of particularly low centrality of amnesia. We further noted substantive similarities in network structure, but also differences, between refugees living in an urban environment and in refugee camps. Concentration problems were most central among mainly Somali refugees at a refugee camp, and associated with amnesia and sense of foreshortened future, while emotional numbing was the most central symptom among majority Congolese refugees in Nairobi. Our findings highlight the importance of contextual and cultural factors for PTSD symptomatology, and are informative for assessment and treatment among help-seeking refugees.
Collapse
|
21
|
Ametaj AA, Hook K, Cheng Y, Serba EG, Koenen KC, Fekadu A, Ng LC. Traumatic events and posttraumatic stress disorder in individuals with severe mental illness in a non-western setting: Data from rural Ethiopia. PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA-THEORY RESEARCH PRACTICE AND POLICY 2021; 13:684-693. [PMID: 33539160 DOI: 10.1037/tra0001006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic events and ensuing stress are not widely studied in individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) despite their increased vulnerability to both. Far less is known about traumatic events and posttrauma reactions in people with SMI in low-resourced settings. OBJECTIVE To address this gap in knowledge, our study focused on trauma and its effects for individuals with SMI and their caregivers in rural Ethiopia. Study aims were to identify events that were considered traumatic by stakeholders; characterize the mental health effects of such events; and discern events and posttrauma symptoms most relevant for SMI. METHOD Qualitative interviews were gathered from 48 participants in Ethiopia who included individuals with SMI, their caregivers, health care providers, and community and religious leaders. RESULTS Based on a combined emic and etic approach, major traumatic events included those commonly experienced in rural Ethiopia (e.g., lost property, forced marriage) and endorsed by individuals with SMI (e.g., restraining or chaining, SMI illness in a low-resourced setting). In addition, traumatic events were identified consistent with Western medical criteria (e.g., physical assault, sexual assault). Posttrauma symptoms that were commonly reported included emotions like anger and sadness; thinking too much; crying; and somatic (e.g., burning sensation) and physiological (e.g., shortness of breath) symptoms. As for symptoms consistent with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, we found the presence of all four symptom clusters. CONCLUSIONS Overall, results point to the common occurrence of traumatic events and trauma-linked symptoms for individuals with SMI and their caregivers, including as a result of SMI. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amantia A Ametaj
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University
| | - Kimberly Hook
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Boston University
| | - Yuhan Cheng
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Boston University
| | | | - Karestan C Koenen
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University
| | - Abebaw Fekadu
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University
| | - Lauren C Ng
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Boston University
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Horn R, Sesay SS, Jalloh M, Bayoh A, Lavally JB, Ager A. Expressions of psychological distress in Sierra Leone: implications for community-based prevention and response. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 2020; 7:e19. [PMID: 32913658 PMCID: PMC7443608 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2020.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over recent decades there has been considerable mental health research in Sierra Leone but little on local conceptualisations of mental health conditions. Understanding these is crucial both for identifying the experienced needs of the population and utilising relevant community-based resources to address them. This study took a grounded approach to identify the ways in which adults in Sierra Leone express psychological distress. METHODS Rapid ethnographic methods deployed included 75 case study interviews with community members, 12 key informant (KI) pile sorts and 55 KI interviews. Thematic analysis of data was supported by frequency analysis and multi-dimensional scaling. RESULTS Thirty signs of distress were identified. The only consistent 'syndrome' identified with respect to these was a general concept of crase, which referred to psychosis-related presentation but also a wide range of other signs of distress. We did not find consensus on locally defined concepts for mild-moderate forms of mental disorder: people use multiple overlapping signs and terms indicating psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS Analysis supports calls to view mental health problems as a 'continuum of distress' rather than as discrete categories. This framing is coherent with opportunities for prevention and response in Sierra Leone which do not focus primarily on formal healthcare service providers but rather involve a range of community-based actors. It also enables attention to be paid to the identification of milder signs of distress with a view to early response and prevention of more severe mental health problems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Horn
- NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Health in Situations of Fragility, Institute for Global Health & Development, Queen Margaret University, Musselburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | | | | | | | | | - Alastair Ager
- NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Health in Situations of Fragility, Institute for Global Health & Development, Queen Margaret University, Musselburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Meili I, Heim E, Pelosi AC, Maercker A. Metaphors and cultural narratives on adaptive responses to severe adversity: A field study among the Indigenous Pitaguary community in Brazil. Transcult Psychiatry 2020; 57:332-345. [PMID: 31795874 DOI: 10.1177/1363461519890435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The expressions resilience and posttraumatic growth represent metaphorical concepts that are typically found in Euro-American contexts. Metaphors of severe adversity or trauma and the expressions of overcoming it vary across cultures-a lacuna, which has not been given much attention in the literature so far. This study aimed to explore the metaphorical concepts that the Indigenous Pitaguary community in Brazil uses to talk about adaptive and positive responses to severe adversity and to relate them to their socio-cultural context. We carried out 14 semi-structured interviews during field research over a one-month period of fieldwork. The data were explored with systematic metaphor analysis. The core metaphors included images of battle, unity, spirituality, journeys, balance, time, sight, transformation, and development. These metaphors were related to context-specific cultural narratives that underlie the Pitaguary ontological perspective on collectivity, nature, and cosmology. The results suggest that metaphors and cultural narratives can reveal important aspects of a culture's collective mindset. To have a contextualized understanding of expressive nuances is an essential asset to adapt interventions to specific cultures and promote culture-specific healing and recovery processes.
Collapse
|
24
|
Michalopoulos LM, Meinhart M, Yung J, Barton SM, Wang X, Chakrabarti U, Ritchey M, Haroz E, Joseph N, Bass J, Bolton P. Global Posttrauma Symptoms: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Literature. TRAUMA, VIOLENCE & ABUSE 2020; 21:406-420. [PMID: 29699456 DOI: 10.1177/1524838018772293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to potentially traumatic events is a global health problem, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Assessments for symptoms resulting from trauma exposure rely heavily on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which may not be relevant in all regions of the globe. We examined posttrauma symptoms that were not limited to Western constructs of mental health (i.e., PTSD). In a systematic review, we searched nine databases to identify posttrauma symptoms arising in qualitative literature published before July 17, 2017. A total of 17,938 records were identified and 392 met inclusion criteria. The 392 studies represented data on 400 study populations from 71 different nationalities/ethnicities. The presence and frequency of posttrauma symptoms were examined across all regions. Fisher's exact tests were also conducted to compare frequencies in posttrauma symptoms across region and gender. Based on a weighted analysis across regions, a list of global posttrauma symptoms (N = 85) was compiled into an item bank. We found that the majority of DSM-5 PTSD symptoms were mentioned across regions (with the exception of inability to recall specific aspects of the trauma and blame of self or others for the event). Across all regions, we also found a number of symptoms mentioned that were not part of PTSD and its associated features. Findings suggest that assessing posttrauma symptoms solely based on PTSD may be limiting to global populations. Research, policy, and practice implications are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lynn Murphy Michalopoulos
- Global Health and Mental Health Unit, Social Intervention Group, Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Justina Yung
- Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Xinyi Wang
- Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Megan Ritchey
- Yale University School of Nursing, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Emily Haroz
- Center for American Indian Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nakita Joseph
- Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY, USA
| | - Judith Bass
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Paul Bolton
- Department of International Health, Center for Refugee and Disaster Response Baltimore, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Stelzer EM, Zhou N, Maercker A, O’Connor MF, Killikelly C. Prolonged Grief Disorder and the Cultural Crisis. Front Psychol 2020; 10:2982. [PMID: 31998204 PMCID: PMC6967836 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is included as a new mental health disorder in the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Understandably, this has boosted research efforts to investigate this newcomer to psychopathology. However, the use of different diagnostic algorithms has resulted in substantially different prevalence rates both within and across cultural groups. Furthermore, global applicability of the new criteria outside of the Global North has not been yet been established. This perspective presents key findings from Asian research groups and discusses the roadblocks to unified PGD research, including the heterogeneric use of diagnostic algorithms and the lack of cultural compatibility of ICD-11 items. The authors discuss the key issues and address implications for practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eva-Maria Stelzer
- Division of Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Ningning Zhou
- Division of Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Andreas Maercker
- Division of Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Clare Killikelly
- Division of Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Rechsteiner K, Tol V, Maercker A. "It should not have happened": metaphorical expressions, idioms, and narrative descriptions related to trauma in an indigenous community in India. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being 2019; 14:1667134. [PMID: 31526241 PMCID: PMC6758705 DOI: 10.1080/17482631.2019.1667134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Psychological trauma can be viewed as a metaphor which originates from somatic medicine and comes from the Greek word "wound". To gain a better understanding of trauma in a culturally sensitive way, the present project aimed to explore alternative metaphors used to describe extreme aversive or catastrophic events. Methods: This ethnopsychological study was carried out among the Adivasis indigenous people in tribal communities in Pune, India. We performed 28 interviews with lay persons and key informants, focusing on collectively shared metaphors. The data were examined using systematic metaphor analysis. Results: While the most prevalent metaphorical concepts found related to shock and wound, we also identified culture-specific idioms and common themes in the descriptions related to trauma. The most predominant expression, which was used by all of the participants, was "this should not have happened" (asa nahi vhayala pahije hota). These findings indicate that metaphorical concepts reflect implicit worldviews and beliefs in the community under study. Conclusion: The main implication of the results found is to increase awareness of different expressions in clinical settings, pointing to potential approaches to the cultural adaptation of clinical interventions in general.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karin Rechsteiner
- Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Varsha Tol
- KEM Hospital Research Centre, Pune, India
| | - Andreas Maercker
- Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Jaimes A, Hassan G, Rousseau C. Hurtful Gifts? Trauma and Growth Transmission Among Local Clinicians in Postearthquake Haiti. J Trauma Stress 2019; 32:186-195. [PMID: 30932228 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Revised: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 12/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Although working with trauma survivors can be a source of both deleterious and positive transformations in mental health professionals, little is known about the experience of clinicians in shared traumatic contexts, particularly in the Global South, where most humanitarian crises occur. In collective disasters or armed conflicts, the personal and professional experiences of mental health staff inform each other, situating the clinical space at the intersection between singular and collective spheres. Drawing on an intersubjective and socioecological perspective, this qualitative study explored the ways in which working in a shared traumatic context affected mental health and psychosocial staff in postearthquake Haiti. We interviewed 22 local mental health workers in the capital, Port-au-Prince, 2.5 years after the 2010 disaster. We coded and thematically analyzed interviews using an iterative process, based on grounded theory principles. Thematic analysis uncovered four dynamic poles in clinicians' narratives: balancing duty and desire to help, experiencing fragility and strength, negotiating separation and connection, and sharing hurt and hope. Our findings suggest clinicians considered their work mainly as a source of strength in the face of adversity, whereas experiences of trauma and growth transmissions were mutual and intimately intertwined. We discuss the complexities of clinical work in shared traumatic settings as well as the dynamic interplay between professionals' experiences of suffering and growth. We conclude with recommendations on ways to involve local mental health clinicians in postdisaster contexts while addressing the special needs that they may have to process their own trauma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annie Jaimes
- Psychology Department, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Canada.,Sherpa Research Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Ghayda Hassan
- Psychology Department, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Canada.,Sherpa Research Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Cécile Rousseau
- Sherpa Research Centre, Montreal, Canada.,Social and Transcultural Division of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Robson B, Chang L, Kaminer D. Representation of low and middle income countries in traumatic stress journals from 2006 to 2015. SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1177/0081246319831605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Although the majority of trauma survivors reside in low and middle income countries, these regions have historically been poorly represented in traumatic stress research. However, a recent review of geographic representation within traumatic stress journals is lacking. This study reviewed all articles published between 2006 and 2015 in six leading traumatic stress journals. When articles ( n = 2530) were categorised by region, less than one tenth (9.76%; n = 247) were representative of low and middle income countries. All articles categorised as being from a low and middle income country were then coded for the regional and country representations of samples, author affiliations, and funding sources, and for type of research methodology. The majority of primary author teams (56.28%) and funding sources (55.87%) for articles based in low and middle income countries were located in high-income countries. The majority of low and middle income country articles (71.66%) used structured symptom questionnaires of which more than two thirds (70.6%) assessed symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. These findings indicate that knowledge production about traumatic stress in domain-specific journals reflects a state of ongoing geographic inequality and that research published from low and middle income countries reflects predominantly etic methodologies centred on measuring posttraumatic stress disorder. The implications are discussed and recommendations are offered for developing a research base in domain-specific journals that better represents the experiences and needs of trauma survivors in low and middle income countries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian Robson
- Department of Psychology, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Leanne Chang
- Department of Psychology, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Debra Kaminer
- Department of Psychology, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Otake Y. Suffering of silenced people in northern Rwanda. Soc Sci Med 2019; 222:171-179. [PMID: 30658290 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
To contribute to understanding the association between silence and suffering in the context of war and political repression, this study sheds light on the meaning-making process and explores the underlying mechanisms by which silence leads to suffering and how this suffering could be alleviated. The ethnographic research was conducted in 2015-2016, with 43 participants from northern Rwanda, who survived massacres after the 1994 genocide but were prevented from speaking about the experience by political constraints. The findings first describe their suffering, through grief, social isolation and loss of meaning in life and death (expressed as existential questions). Their suffering was worsened by 'unspeakability'; that is, the political context that prevents victims from speaking freely about their war experience, including discussion of those who killed and those who were killed. Unspeakability exacerbated suffering since participants were obstructed from applying ready narratives (e.g. funerary rituals, traditional reconciliation systems) or constructing their own narratives which could ordinarily help them to process mourning and reconciliation and to make sense of the loss. They selectively employed silence for coping and protection, avoiding speaking about the past to maintain everyday life. However, at the same time, unprocessed mourning remained a serious problem, resulting in mental health problems such as hallucinations of the spirits of the dead; participants expressed a strong need for mourning rituals. Overall, this paper highlights the ways in which the suffering of the silenced population worsens when meaning-making processes are obstructed. To alleviate the suffering, it is essential to secure mourning rituals for all survivors, particularly those who, as part of the defeated group of war, are silenced and marginalized in history.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Otake
- Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9SH, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Gilmoor AR, Adithy A, Regeer B. The Cross-Cultural Validity of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in the Indian Context: A Systematic Search and Review. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:439. [PMID: 31333512 PMCID: PMC6620607 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The cross-cultural validity of the construct of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been a life-long debate in the field of trauma. Its validation in a setting such as India-a nation prone to considerably traumatic events such as conflict, natural disasters, and sexual violence against women-warrants exploration. Objective: To describe how PTSD and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) are conceptualized in the Indian context by systematically examining the evidence of studies that investigate PTSD and PTSS in India. Methods: A systematic search in PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct yielded a total of 56 studies that discussed one or multiple aspects of PTSD and PTSS in India. Data relating to types of events, populations, diagnostic tools, manifestations, and interventions were extracted and analyzed. Results: Eleven of 29 Indian states and 2/7 union territories were represented in the 56 included studies, with most studies (n = 21) originating from Tamil Nadu. Natural Disasters (n = 28), War/Conflict (n = 10), and Medical conditions (n = 7) were the top three most commonly investigated traumatic events. The majority of studies focused on entire communities (n = 16), while children and adolescents made up the second largest group (n = 14). Less attention was paid explicitly to male (n = 3) or female (n = 4) victims. Twenty-five different methods for screening for PTSD were identified, with the most common being the impact of events scale (n = 14). The majority of studies reported the screening and clinical diagnosis of PTSD by professional health care providers (n = 24). Abuse scored the highest average prevalence of PTSD at 52.3%, while the lowest was 16.4% due to man-made accidents. Overall, there was a lack of assessment on trauma-specific interventions, though psychosocial support was the most commonly mentioned intervention. Conclusions: Results indicate diversity in approaches for identifying, measuring, and treating PTSD and PTSS in the Indian population and how sociocultural norms influence its manifestation in this population. Future research calls for the development of culturally sensitive approaches to identifying and addressing PTSD and PTSS in India.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Roderick Gilmoor
- Athena Institute for Research on Innovation and Communication in Health and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Barbara Regeer
- Athena Institute for Research on Innovation and Communication in Health and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Otake Y. Community Resilience and Long-Term Impacts of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Northern Rwanda. Med Sci (Basel) 2018; 6:E94. [PMID: 30356006 PMCID: PMC6313522 DOI: 10.3390/medsci6040094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Revised: 10/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, discussions have considered how mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) can build upon local resilience in war-affected settings. To contribute to the knowledge in this field, the paper explored the gap between MHPSS and local communities in terms of perceived mental health problems and healing processes, and how the gap could be filled. Qualitative research was conducted in northern Rwanda with 43 participants between 2015 and 2016. Findings revealed how three particular gaps can isolate MHPSS recipients in their local community. First, whereas MHPSS applies bio-psychological frameworks to post-genocide mental health, community conceptualisations emphasise social aspects of suffering. Second, unlike MHPSS which encourages 'talking' about trauma, 'practicing' mutual support plays a major role in the community healing process. Third, MHPSS focuses on one part of the community (those who share the same background) and facilitates their healing in intervention groups. However, healing in natural communities continues in everyday life, through mutual support among different people. Despite these gaps, MHPSS recipients can be (re)integrated into the community through sharing suffering narratives and sharing life with other community members. The paper highlights the ways in which MHPSS could inclusively support different social groups in the overall geographical community, allowing members to preserve the existing reciprocity and recover collective life through their own initiatives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Otake
- School of Anthropology & Museum Ethnography, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6PE, UK.
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 5-3-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Killikelly C, Bauer S, Maercker A. The Assessment of Grief in Refugees and Post-conflict Survivors: A Narrative Review of Etic and Emic Research. Front Psychol 2018; 9:1957. [PMID: 30405474 PMCID: PMC6204364 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is a new mental health disorder that will be recognized by the World Health Organization’s disorder classification, the ICD-11, in 2018. Current assessment measures of PGD are largely based on North American and European conceptualizations of grief (etic i.e., from the perspective of the observer). However, research is emerging from communities outside of the Global North, in particular, conflict-exposed communities, exploring local models (emic i.e., from within the cultural group), assessment measures and symptoms of grief. Several reviews have found that refugees have higher rates of mental illness, defined by etic standards as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders and psychotic symptoms. Yet, presently there are no reviews documenting the assessment of PGD in refugees and post conflict survivors. Method: This narrative review will provide an overview of studies that assess grief in refugees to (1) identify current assessment measures of grief in refugees (i.e., type and frequency of questionnaires used, whether Global North-based, etic, or locally developed, emic, and the level of cultural adaptation) and (2) to document the variety and rate of grief symptoms identified with Global North standard measures and/or local measures (i.e., the endorsement of standard symptom items and the identification of culturally specific symptoms of grief). Results: This review revealed 24 studies that assessed disordered grief in refugee or post conflict samples. Studies were heterogeneous in their assessment methods; the majority (n = 17) used an etic approach, four used a combined etic/emic approach, and three used a predominantly emic approach. The rate of disordered grief was high depending on cultural adaptation approach (31–76%) and when standard etic measures were used the disordered grief rate was 32%. Conclusion: These findings will help to guide future studies to provide accurate assessment of grief in refugee and post conflict populations and has implications for improving cultural knowledge in clinical practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clare Killikelly
- Division Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, Department of Psychology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Susanna Bauer
- Division Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, Department of Psychology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Maercker
- Division Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, Department of Psychology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Mental health and psychosocial problems among conflict-affected children in Kachin State, Myanmar: a qualitative study. Confl Health 2018; 12:39. [PMID: 30250500 PMCID: PMC6145186 DOI: 10.1186/s13031-018-0175-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In Kachin State, Myanmar, collapse of a ceasefire in 2011 has resulted in widespread exposure to conflict and ongoing internal displacement. Such exposures are known risk factors for mental health and psychosocial (MHPS) problems, yet mental health services for children and youth are typically scarce in such circumstances. Following evaluation of a mental health treatment for adult trauma survivors on the Thailand-Myanmar border, our study team received requests to support the development of a similar intervention for displaced children in Kachin State. To inform this work, we conducted a brief qualitative needs assessment to explore priority MHPS problems among this population. Methods Data were collected in internally displaced persons camps in Kachin State during July and August, 2016. Free list interviews with a convenience sample of 28 adolescents and 12 adults produced a list of problems affecting children and adolescents in this area. Four problems were further explored in key informant interviews with a convenience sample of 26 adolescents and 4 adults. Data analysis was conducted by the local interview team. Results Priority problems included: behavior problems, substance use, effects of war, and feeling sad/depressed/hopeless. Descriptions emphasized the interconnectedness between the problems. Overall, most problems were related to specific events that suggest that the symptoms themselves are responses to unusual situations; however, the problems were also linked to current psychosocial stressors such as poverty, poor nutrition, and discrimination. Effects of war were described primarily as a constellation of social and economic problems rather than a list of mental health symptoms, although descriptions of these problems did include post-traumatic stress symptoms. Conclusions Findings fit well within explanatory models of distress that include both direct trauma exposure and exacerbation of daily stressors. Results of this study have been used to inform intervention adaptation and evaluation, but also contribute to the literature on the needs of young people in situations of protracted conflict.
Collapse
|
34
|
Rabaia Y, de Jong J, Abdullah A, Giacaman R, van de Ven P. Well-being and pressures of daily life in two West Bank villages-Exploring context and history. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2018; 54:510-520. [PMID: 29869785 DOI: 10.1002/ijop.12495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Interest in the well-being of people exposed to long-term violence and conflict has tended to focus on measurable effects of acute traumatic events, while attention to the pressures of their daily living context is relatively new. Using qualitative and quantitative data from a 2005 survey of all female family caretakers in 2 neighbouring Israeli-occupied West Bank villages (n = 820), we explored the associations of demographic, health-related and contextual factors with reported pressures and WHO-5 well-being index scores. The final model explained 17.8% of the variance with negative associations between health-related factors ("back-aches," "stomach aches" "psychological illness in the family") and family-related factors ("male head of household aggressive", "male head of household physically violent") and the WHO-5 well-being index scores. We found positive associations between socio-economic factors ("standard of living"; "number of rooms") and village-related factors ("residency in village A/B") and the WHO-5 well-being index score. Exploring the daily living context of villages A and B illuminated how the impact of historical and political events differed, even in villages that are geographically close. The paper lends support to calls for including politics and history in research on well-being in contexts of long-term violence and conflict.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoke Rabaia
- Institute of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University, Birzeit, Palestine
| | - Joop de Jong
- Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anita Abdullah
- Institute of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University, Birzeit, Palestine
| | - Rita Giacaman
- Institute of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University, Birzeit, Palestine
| | - Peter van de Ven
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Jayawickreme N, Mootoo C, Fountain C, Rasmussen A, Jayawickreme E, Bertuccio RF. Post-conflict struggles as networks of problems: A network analysis of trauma, daily stressors and psychological distress among Sri Lankan war survivors. Soc Sci Med 2017; 190:119-132. [PMID: 28858697 PMCID: PMC5607106 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Revised: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
A growing body of literature indicates that the mental distress experienced by survivors of war is a function of both experienced trauma and stressful life events. However, the majority of these studies are limited in that they 1) employ models of psychological distress that emphasize underlying latent constructs and do not allow researchers to examine the unique associations between particular symptoms and various stressors; and 2) use one or more measures that were not developed for that particular context and thus may exclude key traumas, stressful life events and symptoms of psychopathology. The current study addresses both these limitations by 1) using a novel conceptual model, network analysis, which assumes that symptoms covary with each other not because they stem from a latent construct, but rather because they represent meaningful relationships between the symptoms; and 2) employing a locally developed measure of experienced trauma, stressful life problems and symptoms of psychopathology. Over the course of 2009-2011, 337 survivors of the Sri Lankan civil war were administered the Penn-RESIST-Peradeniya War Problems Questionnaire (PRPWPQ). Network analysis revealed that symptoms of psychopathology, problems pertaining to lack of basic needs, and social problems were central to the network relative to experienced trauma and other types of problems. After controlling for shared associations, social problems in particular were the most central, significantly more so than traumatic events and family problems. Several particular traumatic events, stressful life events and symptoms of psychopathology that were central to the network were also identified. Discussion emphasizes the utility of such network models to researchers and practitioners determining how to spend limited resources in the most impactful way possible.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Candace Mootoo
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Haroz EE, Bass J, Lee C, Oo SS, Lin K, Kohrt B, Michalopolous L, Nguyen AJ, Bolton P. Development and cross-cultural testing of the International Depression Symptom Scale (IDSS): a measurement instrument designed to represent global presentations of depression. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 2017; 4:e17. [PMID: 29230313 PMCID: PMC5719484 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2017.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Revised: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Self-report measurement instruments are commonly used to screen for mental health disorders in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC). The Western origins of most depression instruments may constitute a bias when used globally. Western measures based on the DSM, do not fully capture the expression of depression globally. We developed a self-report scale design to address this limitation, the International Depression Symptom Scale-General version (IDSS-G), based on empirical evidence of the signs and symptoms of depression reported across cultures. This paper describes the rationale and process of its development and the results of an initial test among a non-Western population. METHODS We evaluated internal consistency reliability, test-retest reliability and inter-rater reliability of the IDSS-G in a sample N = 147 male and female attendees of primary health clinics in Yangon, Myanmar. For criterion validity, IDSS-G scores were compared with diagnosis by local psychiatrists using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM (SCID). Construct validity was evaluated by investigating associations between the IDSS-G and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), impaired function, and suicidal ideation. RESULTS The IDSS-G showed high internal consistency reliability (α = 0.92), test-retest reliability (r = 0.87), and inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.90). Strong correlations between the IDSS-G and PHQ-9, functioning, and suicidal ideation supported construct validity. Criterion validity was supported for use of the IDSS-G to identify people with a SCID diagnosed depressive disorder (major depression/dysthymia). The IDSS-G also demonstrated incremental validity by predicting functional impairment beyond that predicted by the PHQ-9. Results suggest that the IDSS-G accurately assesses depression in this population. Future testing in other populations will follow.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E. E. Haroz
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - J. Bass
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - C. Lee
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - K. Lin
- Thu Kha Nwe Specialist Clinic, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - B. Kohrt
- Duke University, Duke Global Health Institute & Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - L. Michalopolous
- School of Social Work, Columbia University, 1255 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY, USA
| | - A. J. Nguyen
- University of Virginia Curry School of Education, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - P. Bolton
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Raghavan SS, Rosenfeld B, Rasmussen A. Measurement Invariance of the Brief Symptom Inventory in Survivors of Torture and Trauma. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2017; 32:1708-1729. [PMID: 26712356 DOI: 10.1177/0886260515619750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The United States accepts more refugees than any other industrialized nation. As refugee populations grow, mental health professionals must implement culturally and ethnically appropriate strategies to assess and treat individuals from diverse backgrounds. Culture can exert a powerful and often misunderstood influence on psychological assessment, and few structured measures have been demonstrated to have adequate cross-cultural validity for use with diverse and vulnerable populations such as survivors of torture. This study examined the factor structure and equivalency of underlying construct(s) of psychological distress as measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) in three samples who had survived torture and other severe trauma from Tibet, West Africa and the Punjab region of India. Confirmatory factor analyses provided support for configural invariance of a two-factor model across the three samples, suggesting that the two latent factors of Complex Dysphoria and Somatic Distress were present in each subgroup. The data provide additional support for the strict invariance model in the West African-Tibetan dyad suggesting that scores are comparable across those two groups. Implications for research and treatment are discussed.
Collapse
|
38
|
Haroz EE, Ritchey M, Bass JK, Kohrt BA, Augustinavicius J, Michalopoulos L, Burkey MD, Bolton P. How is depression experienced around the world? A systematic review of qualitative literature. Soc Sci Med 2017; 183:151-162. [PMID: 28069271 PMCID: PMC5488686 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.12.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2016] [Revised: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
To date global research on depression has used assessment tools based on research and clinical experience drawn from Western populations (i.e., in North American, European and Australian). There may be features of depression in non-Western populations which are not captured in current diagnostic criteria or measurement tools, as well as criteria for depression that are not relevant in other regions. We investigated this possibility through a systematic review of qualitative studies of depression worldwide. Nine online databases were searched for records that used qualitative methods to study depression. Initial searches were conducted between August 2012 and December 2012; an updated search was repeated in June of 2015 to include relevant literature published between December 30, 2012 and May 30, 2015. No date limits were set for inclusion of articles. A total of 16,130 records were identified and 138 met full inclusion criteria. Included studies were published between 1976 and 2015. These 138 studies represented data on 170 different study populations (some reported on multiple samples) and 77 different nationalities/ethnicities. Variation in results by geographical region, gender, and study context were examined to determine the consistency of descriptions across populations. Fisher's exact tests were used to compare frequencies of features across region, gender and context. Seven of the 15 features with the highest relative frequency form part of the DSM-5 diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). However, many of the other features with relatively high frequencies across the studies are associated features in the DSM, but are not prioritized as diagnostic criteria and therefore not included in standard instruments. The DSM-5 diagnostic criteria of problems with concentration and psychomotor agitation or slowing were infrequently mentioned. This research suggests that the DSM model and standard instruments currently based on the DSM may not adequately reflect the experience of depression at the worldwide or regional levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E E Haroz
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States.
| | - M Ritchey
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 733 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - J K Bass
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - B A Kohrt
- Duke University, Duke Global Health Institute & Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Durham, NC 27710, United States
| | - J Augustinavicius
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - L Michalopoulos
- School of Social Work, Columbia University, 1255 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027, United States
| | - M D Burkey
- Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - P Bolton
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States; Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Labys CA, Susser E, Burns JK. Psychosis and help-seeking behavior in rural KwaZulu Natal: unearthing local insights. Int J Ment Health Syst 2016; 10:57. [PMID: 27660651 PMCID: PMC5029022 DOI: 10.1186/s13033-016-0089-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Growing interest in strategies regarding early intervention for psychosis has led to a parallel interest in understanding help-seeking behavior, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Nevertheless, few LMIC studies have examined individuals with psychosis in non-urban, non-hospital settings. Using the perspective of formal and informal community service providers, we aimed to uncover descriptions of people with psychosis in a rural South African community and illuminate the potential complexities of their help-seeking journeys. Methods We conducted a qualitative study of 40 key informant interviews and seven focus groups with stakeholders (traditional leaders, traditional healers, religious leaders, health care nurses, heads of non-governmental organizations, schoolteachers, community caregivers) in a rural Zulu community (Vulindlela). Thematic analysis of the data was performed using the inductive analysis approach. Results Interviewees discussed 32 individuals with probable psychosis in their community and provided rich descriptions of their symptoms. A complex picture of help-seeking behavior, primarily involving informal mental health service providers, emerged. Over half of the reported cases had no contact with formal health services in the course of their help-seeking journey; while more than two-thirds never attended a hospital and only 1 in 8 accessed a psychiatric hospital. Conclusions Our results highlight the important role of informal care providers in LMICs as well as the need for more research on mental illness and local providers in non-hospital contexts. Community stakeholders can contribute to a fuller understanding of these issues, thereby assisting in the creation of appropriate and effective mental health interventions for rural South African communities like Vulindlela.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte A Labys
- Department of Psychiatry, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Ezra Susser
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, USA ; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Nguyen AJ, Feo C, Idrisov K, Pintaldi G, Lenglet A, Tsatsaeva Z, Bolton P, Bass J. Mental health problems among conflict-affected adults in Grozny, Chechnya: a qualitative study. Confl Health 2016; 10:16. [PMID: 27489565 PMCID: PMC4971629 DOI: 10.1186/s13031-016-0083-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2015] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background A decade of conflict in Chechnya destroyed infrastructure and resulted in widespread exposure to violence. Amidst substantial reconstruction, periodic violence has contributed to an ongoing atmosphere of insecurity. We conducted a qualitative study to understand the mental health and psychosocial problems affecting adult Chechens in this context to inform development of assessment tools for an evaluation study related to individual counseling. Methods Data were collected in July 2014. A convenience sample of 59 Chechen adults was asked to Free List all problems affecting people in the area. Four problems were explored further in 19 Key Interviewee (KI) interviews, with respondents identified using snowball sampling. Data analysis was conducted in Russian by the Chechen interviewers. Results Multiple mental health and psychosocial problems emerged, including ‘bad psychological health’, ‘depression’, ‘stress and nervous people’, and ‘problems in the family’. Aggression, ‘emotional blowing’, and ‘not adequate’ behavior were frequently reported indicators of these problems, with negative effects on the whole family. Chechens reported seeking help through informal social networks, psychiatric and psychological services, and Islamic Centers. Conclusion Chechens reported mental health and psychosocial problems similar to those experienced in other post-conflict settings. The description of ‘emotional blowing’ mirrored prior findings in Chechen asylum seekers and fits within a cluster of cultural concepts of distress featuring anger that has been identified in other conflict-affected populations. Further exploration of the nature and prevalence of this construct, as well as evaluations of interventions aimed at reducing these symptoms, is warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda J Nguyen
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | | | - Kyuri Idrisov
- Department of Psychiatry, Chechen State University, Grozny, Chechen Republic Russian Federation
| | - Giovanni Pintaldi
- Public Health Department, Médecins Sans Frontières, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annick Lenglet
- Public Health Department, Médecins Sans Frontières, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Paul Bolton
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA ; Center for Refugee and Disaster Response, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA
| | - Judith Bass
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA ; Center for Refugee and Disaster Response, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Barber BK, McNeely CA, El Sarraj E, Daher M, Giacaman R, Arafat C, Barnes W, Abu Mallouh M. Mental Suffering in Protracted Political Conflict: Feeling Broken or Destroyed. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0156216. [PMID: 27232335 PMCID: PMC4883798 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2014] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This mixed-methods exploratory study identified and then developed and validated a quantitative measure of a new construct of mental suffering in the occupied Palestinian territory: feeling broken or destroyed. METHODS Group interviews were conducted in 2011 with 68 Palestinians, most aged 30-40, in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip to discern local definitions of functioning. Interview participants articulated of a type of suffering not captured in existing mental health instruments used in regions of political conflict. In contrast to the specific difficulties measured by depression and PTSD (sleep, appetite, energy, flashbacks, avoidance, etc.), participants elaborated a more existential form of mental suffering: feeling that one's spirit, morale and/or future was broken or destroyed, and emotional and psychological exhaustion. Participants articulated these feelings when describing the rigors of the political and economic contexts in which they live. We wrote survey items to capture these sentiments and administered these items-along with standard survey measures of mental health-to a representative sample of 1,778 32-43 year olds in the occupied Palestinian territory. The same survey questions also were administered to a representative subsample (n = 508) six months earlier, providing repeated measures of the construct. RESULTS Across samples and time, the feeling broken or destroyed scale: 1) comprised a separate factor in exploratory factor analyses, 2) had high inter-item consistency, 3) was reported by both genders and in all regions, 4) showed discriminate validity via moderate correlations with measures of feelings of depression and trauma-related stress, and 5) was more commonly experienced than either feelings of depression or trauma-related stress. CONCLUSIONS Feeling broken or destroyed can be reliably measured and distinguished from conventional measures of mental health. Such locally grounded and contextualized measures should be identified and included in assessments of the full impact of protracted political conflict on functioning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian K. Barber
- University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America
- New America, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Clea A. McNeely
- University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Eyad El Sarraj
- Gaza Community Mental Health Programme, Gaza Strip, Palestine
| | | | | | - Cairo Arafat
- Save the Children Foundation, Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine
| | - William Barnes
- Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Johnston A, Abraham L, Greenslade J, Thom O, Carlstrom E, Wallis M, Crilly J. Review article: Staff perception of the emergency department working environment: Integrative review of the literature. Emerg Med Australas 2016; 28:7-26. [PMID: 26784282 PMCID: PMC4755193 DOI: 10.1111/1742-6723.12522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Revised: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 10/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Employees in EDs report increasing role overload because of critical staff shortages, budgetary cuts and increased patient numbers and acuity. Such overload could compromise staff satisfaction with their working environment. This integrative review identifies, synthesises and evaluates current research around staff perceptions of the working conditions in EDs. A systematic search of relevant databases, using MeSH descriptors ED/EDs, Emergency room/s, ER/s, or A&E coupled with (and) working environment, working condition/s, staff perception/s, as well as reference chaining was conducted. We identified 31 key studies that were evaluated using the mixed methods assessment tool (MMAT). These comprised 24 quantitative-descriptive studies, four mixed descriptive/comparative (non-randomised controlled trial) studies and three qualitative studies. Studies included varied widely in quality with MMAT scores ranging from 0% to 100%. A key finding was that perceptions of working environment varied across clinical staff and study location, but that high levels of autonomy and teamwork offset stress around high pressure and high volume workloads. The large range of tools used to assess staff perception of working environment limits the comparability of the studies. A dearth of intervention studies around enhancing working environments in EDs limits the capacity to recommend evidence-based interventions to improve staff morale.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amy Johnston
- Menzies Health Institute QueenslandGriffith UniversityGold CoastQueenslandAustralia
- Emergency DepartmentGold Coast Hospital and Health ServiceGold CoastQueenslandAustralia
| | - Louisa Abraham
- Department of Emergency MedicineNambour HospitalNambourQueenslandAustralia
- Department of Emergency MedicineCaloundra HospitalCaloundraQueenslandAustralia
| | - Jaimi Greenslade
- Department of Emergency MedicineRoyal Brisbane and Women's HospitalBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
- School of MedicineUniversity of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Ogilvie Thom
- Department of Emergency MedicineNambour HospitalNambourQueenslandAustralia
- School of MedicineUniversity of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | | | - Marianne Wallis
- Menzies Health Institute QueenslandGriffith UniversityGold CoastQueenslandAustralia
- School of Nursing and MidwiferyUniversity of the Sunshine CoastMaroochydoreQueenslandAustralia
| | - Julia Crilly
- Menzies Health Institute QueenslandGriffith UniversityGold CoastQueenslandAustralia
- Emergency DepartmentGold Coast Hospital and Health ServiceGold CoastQueenslandAustralia
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Rasmussen A, Verkuilen J, Ho E, Fan Y. Posttraumatic stress disorder among refugees: Measurement invariance of Harvard Trauma Questionnaire scores across global regions and response patterns. Psychol Assess 2015; 27:1160-70. [PMID: 25894706 PMCID: PMC4615261 DOI: 10.1037/pas0000115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Despite the central role of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in international humanitarian aid work, there has been little examination of the measurement invariance of PTSD measures across culturally defined refugee subgroups. This leaves mental health workers in disaster settings with little to support inferences made using the results of standard clinical assessment tools, such as the severity of symptoms and prevalence rates. We examined measurement invariance in scores from the most widely used PTSD measure in refugee populations, the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ; Mollica et al., 1992), in a multinational and multilingual sample of asylum seekers from 81 countries of origin in 11 global regions. Clustering HTQ responses to justify grouping regional groups by response patterns resulted in 3 groups for testing measurement invariance: West Africans, Himalayans, and all others. Comparing log-likelihood ratios showed that while configural invariance seemed to hold, metric and scalar invariance did not. These findings call into question the common practice of using standard cut-off scores on PTSD measures across culturally dissimilar refugee populations. In addition, high correlation between factors suggests that the construct validity of scores from North American and European measures of PTSD may not hold globally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jay Verkuilen
- Program in Educational Psychology, Center for the Advanced Study in Education; City University of New York, New York, NY
| | - Emily Ho
- Department of Psychology; Fordham University, Bronx, NY
| | - Yuyu Fan
- Department of Psychology; Fordham University, Bronx, NY
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
|
45
|
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs in 5-10% of the population and is twice as common in women as in men. Although trauma exposure is the precipitating event for PTSD to develop, biological and psychosocial risk factors are increasingly viewed as predictors of symptom onset, severity and chronicity. PTSD affects multiple biological systems, such as brain circuitry and neurochemistry, and cellular, immune, endocrine and metabolic function. Treatment approaches involve a combination of medications and psychotherapy, with psychotherapy overall showing greatest efficacy. Studies of PTSD pathophysiology initially focused on the psychophysiology and neurobiology of stress responses, and the acquisition and the extinction of fear memories. However, increasing emphasis is being placed on identifying factors that explain individual differences in responses to trauma and promotion of resilience, such as genetic and social factors, brain developmental processes, cumulative biological and psychological effects of early childhood and other stressful lifetime events. The field of PTSD is currently challenged by fluctuations in diagnostic criteria, which have implications for epidemiological, biological, genetic and treatment studies. However, the advent of new biological methodologies offers the possibility of large-scale approaches to heterogeneous and genetically complex brain disorders, and provides optimism that individualized approaches to diagnosis and treatment will be discovered.
Collapse
|