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Baskaran A, Marogi E, Bitar R, Attarian H, Saadi A. Improving Sleep Health Among Refugees: A Systematic Review. Neurol Clin Pract 2023; 13:e200139. [PMID: 36936393 PMCID: PMC10022726 DOI: 10.1212/cpj.0000000000200139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of Review Sleep disorders among refugees are common yet understudied. Interventions are difficult in resource-limited settings where most of these populations live. A systematic review of sleep disorders in refugee populations is warranted to identify prevalence, comorbidities, and the limitations of the current state of sleep health among refugees. Recent Findings Sleep disturbances, particularly insomnia and nightmares, occur with a higher prevalence among refugees. Diseases associated with insomnia in this population included fibromyalgia, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. Risk factors include trauma, migration, lower socioeconomic status, lower educational level, and settlement in areas with a high influx of new residents or proximity to conflict. Only a few partially successful therapies were identified. Summary This review identifies the high prevalence of the disturbed sleep in this population and its risk factors. It proposes ways of increasing awareness of it in this vulnerable population as a first step toward remediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archit Baskaran
- Department of Neurology (AB), University of Chicago, IL; Department of Internal Medicine (EM), University of California San Francisco, CA; American University of Beirut (RB), Lebanon; Department of Neurology (HA), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Department of Neurology (AS), MGH Asylum Clinic, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Emily Marogi
- Department of Neurology (AB), University of Chicago, IL; Department of Internal Medicine (EM), University of California San Francisco, CA; American University of Beirut (RB), Lebanon; Department of Neurology (HA), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Department of Neurology (AS), MGH Asylum Clinic, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Ricardo Bitar
- Department of Neurology (AB), University of Chicago, IL; Department of Internal Medicine (EM), University of California San Francisco, CA; American University of Beirut (RB), Lebanon; Department of Neurology (HA), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Department of Neurology (AS), MGH Asylum Clinic, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Hrayr Attarian
- Department of Neurology (AB), University of Chicago, IL; Department of Internal Medicine (EM), University of California San Francisco, CA; American University of Beirut (RB), Lebanon; Department of Neurology (HA), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Department of Neurology (AS), MGH Asylum Clinic, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Altaf Saadi
- Department of Neurology (AB), University of Chicago, IL; Department of Internal Medicine (EM), University of California San Francisco, CA; American University of Beirut (RB), Lebanon; Department of Neurology (HA), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Department of Neurology (AS), MGH Asylum Clinic, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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Ansbjerg MB, Sandahl H, Baandrup L, Jennum P, Carlsson J. Sleep impairments in refugees diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder: a polysomnographic and self-report study. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2023; 14:2185943. [PMID: 36971225 PMCID: PMC10044313 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2023.2185943] [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] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the clinical manifestation of traumatic events and is associated with sleep disturbances. Sleep disturbances, if left untreated, may perpetuate or even worsen symptoms of PTSD. Previous studies of other PTSD populations show a higher incidence of sleep impairments and sleep disorders compared to healthy controls (HCs); however, this has never been investigated in trauma-affected refugees diagnosed with PTSD.Objectives: To examine subjective sleep quality, measure sleep architecture, and identify latent sleep disorders in refugees diagnosed with PTSD compared to HCs.Method: This comparative study included 20 trauma-affected refugees diagnosed with PTSD and 20 HC matched on age, sex, and body mass index. All participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing sleep quality, insomnia severity, and disturbing nocturnal behaviour, and all took part in a one-night polysomnography (PSG) assessment.Results: Patients reported significantly poorer subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, and sleep efficiency compared to HCs. Subjective reports on hours spent in bed were not significantly different between patients and HCs. Patients reported significantly higher nightmare frequency and severity compared to HCs. PSG measures showed that patients had significantly reduced sleep efficiency, more awakenings, and longer REM sleep latency, and spent more time awake, whereas there was no significant differences regarding total time in bed, total sleep time, or sleep latency. The prevalence of sleep disorders was equal between groups.Conclusions: The study identified significant impairments in several sleep domains, with a preponderance of disturbed regulation of sleep resulting in awakenings. These results indicate a need for more focus on hyperarousal and nightmares as key elements of disturbed sleep in PTSD. Furthermore, the study identified a discrepancy between subjective and objective measures concerning total sleep time, raising questions regarding the causes of 'sleep state misperception'.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03535636..Trial registration: Sleep Impairments in Refugees Diagnosed with PTSD (PSG-PTSD). URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03535636. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03535636. Date of registration: 24/05/2018.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mia Beicher Ansbjerg
- Competence Centre for Transcultural Psychiatry (CTP), Mental Health Centre, Ballerup, Copenhagen University Hospital - Mental Health Services CPH, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hinuga Sandahl
- Competence Centre for Transcultural Psychiatry (CTP), Mental Health Centre, Ballerup, Copenhagen University Hospital - Mental Health Services CPH, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lone Baandrup
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department Bispebjerg-Gentofte, Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Poul Jennum
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Danish Centre for Sleep Medicine (DCSM), Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet-Glostrup, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jessica Carlsson
- Competence Centre for Transcultural Psychiatry (CTP), Mental Health Centre, Ballerup, Copenhagen University Hospital - Mental Health Services CPH, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Lee J, Kim N, Jeong H, Jun JY, Yoo SY, Lee SH, Lee J, Lee YJ, Kim SJ. Gray Matter Volume of Thalamic Nuclei in Traumatized North Korean Refugees. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:756202. [PMID: 35573348 PMCID: PMC9095986 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.756202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The current study investigated differences in the regional gray matter (GM) volume of specific thalamic nuclei between North Korean (NK) refugees and South Korean (SK) residents. It also investigated associations between thalamic GM volume changes and psychological symptoms. Psychological evaluations and magnetic resonance imaging were conducted on 50 traumatized NK refugees and 55 non-traumatized SK residents. The regional GM volume ratios in the bilateral thalami were calculated for all participants using voxel-based morphometry. NK refugees showed greater GM volume ratios in the right medial-posterior nuclei and left medial nuclei compared with SK residents. NK refugees also exhibited more depressive symptoms than SK residents. However, increased GM volume ratios in both right medial-posterior nuclei and left medial nuclei were correlated with fewer depressive symptoms in NK refugees, but not in SK residents. The findings indicate that traumatized NK refugees had increased GM volumes in the right medial-posterior nuclei and left medial nuclei, which were associated with fewer depressive symptoms. The enlarged specific thalamic nuclei presented among refugees in the current study might be associated with a neurobiological compensatory mechanism that prevents the development or progression of depression in refugees after repetitive traumatic experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiye Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Nambeom Kim
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Gachon University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Hyunwoo Jeong
- Geumsan-gun Public Health Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jin Yong Jun
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - So Young Yoo
- Department of Psychiatry, National Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - So Hee Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, National Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jooyoung Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yu Jin Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Sleep and Chronobiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seog Ju Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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