Prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Asylum Seekers in Italy: A Population-Based Survey in Sicily
Tóm tắt
Italian coasts are docking berths for the majority of boats carrying asylum seekers coming from Middle East and Sub-Saharan countries. These people escaped from their home countries in an effort to survive war, hunger and torture. These experiences might have affected their mental health, which became more endangered during their journey. The main aim of our work was to assess the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in asylum seekers in a first aid facility, where immigrants were aided after their arrival. Thus, we designed a cross-sectional survey with paper-and-pen questionnaires. The setting was the C.A.R.A. (Centro Accoglienza Richiedenti Asilo) in Mineo (Sicily). Participants were asked for general information. They also completed the PTSD Checklist of the DSM-IV (PCL-C) and the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ). We collected 140 questionnaires and the PCL-C was completed by 98 residents; 44% of responders were considered affected by PTSD. Although we used a conservative cut-off, PTSD prevalence was found to be much higher than that in the general population.
Tài liệu tham khảo
UNHCR (2018) Foreced displacement in 2017: Global Trends. Glob. Trends
Schouler-Ocak M, Wintrob R, Moussaoui D, Villasenor Bayardo S, Zhao X, Kastrup MC. Background paper on the needs of migrant, refugee and asylum seeker patients around the globe. Int. J. Cult. Ment. Health. 2016;9:216–32.
Turrini G, Purgato M, Ballette F, Nosè M, Ostuzzi G, Barbui C. Common mental disorders in asylum seekers and refugees: umbrella review of prevalence and intervention studies. Int. J. Ment. Health Syst. 2017;11:51.
UNHCR (2015) Global Trends 2015
Carta MG, Moro MF, Preti A, Lindert J, Bhugra D, Angermeyer M, Vellante M. Human rights of asylum seekers with psychosocial disabilities in Europe. Clin. Pract. Epidemiol. Ment. Heal. 2016;12:64–6.
Nosè M, Turrini G, Imoli M, Ballette F, Ostuzzi G, Cucchi F, Padoan C, Ruggeri M, Barbui C. Prevalence and correlates of psychological distress and psychiatric disorders in asylum seekers and refugees resettled in an Italian Catchment Area. J. Immigr. Minor. Heal. 2018;20:263–70.
Mollica RF, Caspi-Yavin Y, Bollini P, Truong T, Tor S, Lavelle J. The Harvard Trauma Questionnaire. Validating a cross-cultural instrument for measuring torture, trauma, and posttraumatic stress disorder in Indochinese refugees. J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 1992;180:111–6.
De Fouchier C, Blanchet A, Hopkins W, Bui E, Ait-Aoudia M, Jehel L. Validation of a french adaptation of the harvard trauma questionnaire among torture survivors from sub-saharan african countries. Eur. J. Psychotraumatol. 2012;3(1):19225.
Weathers FW, Huska JA, Keane TM. PCL-C for DSM-IV. Boston: National Center for PTSD-Behavioral Science Division; 1991.
Ventureyra VAG, Yao SN, Cottraux J, Note I, De Mey-Guillard C. The Validation of the posttraumatic stress disorder checklist scale in posttraumatic stress disorder and nonclinical subjects. Psychother Psychosom. 2002;71:47–53.
National Center for PTSD. Using the PTSD Checklist (PCL). Natl. Cent. PTSD 2–4; 2012.
Crepet A, Rita F, Reid A, Van den Boogaard W, Deiana P, Quaranta G, Barbieri A, Bongiorno F, Di Carlo S. Mental health and trauma in asylum seekers landing in Sicily in 2015: a descriptive study of neglected invisible wounds. Conflict Health. 2017;11:1.
Knipscheer JW, Sleijpen M, Mooren T, Ter Heide FJJ, van der Aa N. Trauma exposure and refugee status as predictors of mental health outcomes in treatment-seeking refugees. BJPsych Bull. 2015;39:178–82.
Aragona M, Pucci D, Mazzetti M, Maisano B, Geraci S. Traumatic events, post-migration living difficulties and post-traumatic symptoms in first generation immigrants: a primary care study. Ann Ist Super Sanita. 2013;49:169–75.
Vuković IS, Jovanović N, Kolarić B, Vidović V, Mollica RF. Psychological and somatic health problems in Bosnian refugees: a three year follow-up. Psychiatr. Danub. 2014;26(Suppl 3):442–9.
Mhlongo MD, Tomita A, Thela L, Maharaj V, Burns JK. Sexual trauma and post-traumatic stress among African female refugees and migrants in South Africa. S. Afr. J. Psychiatr. 2018;24(1):1–4.
Tekin A, Karadağ H, Süleymanoğlu M, Tekin M, Kayran Y, Alpak G, Şar V. Prevalence and gender differences in symptomatology of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression among Iraqi Yazidis displaced into Turkey. Eur. J. Psychotraumatol. 2016;7:28556.
Schick M, Morina N, Mistridis P, Schnyder U, Bryant RA, Nickerson A. Changes in post-migration living difficulties predict treatment outcome in traumatized refugees. Front. Psychiatry. 2018;9:476.