Journal of Psychiatry

Trauma history, physical and mental health among undocumented and asylum-seeking refugee women living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A pilot evaluation of narrative exposure therapy for PTSD

25^th World Summit on Psychology, Psychiatry & Psychotherapy

October 19-20, 2017 | San Francisco, USA

Anne Mantini, Nazilla Khanlou and Paul Caulford

St Michaelâ??s Hospital, Canada
York University, Canada
University of Toronto, Canada

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Psychiatry

Abstract:

Asylum seekers and undocumented refugees have substantial needs for mental health intervention. However, there is a paucity of data available to guide appropriate health care and interventions. We investigated patterns of traumatic exposure, symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, physical health concerns and related clinical characteristics of asylum-seeking and undocumented refugee women visiting a community medical volunteer clinic. Over 70% of the women met the DSM-V criteria for PTSD and depression and over 40% exhibited medical concerns related to heart disease, infections and malnutrition. Social isolation, pre-existing injuries and continuing sequelae of multiple lifelong traumatic exposure were common, levels of unmet needs were high and the group used few services outside of the volunteer community clinic. As a result, a small sub-sample participated in narrative exposure therapy (NET) designed to treat PTSD symptoms. Significant improvements in PTSD symptoms and daily functioning were demonstrated after eight weekly sessions. The combination of high levels of need, debilitating conditions and the evident effectiveness of NET suggest a potential positive intervention for complex clinical syndromes affecting this vulnerable population.