Psychiatry Research
Volume 259, 2018, Pages 310-315

The impact of trauma exposure characteristics on post-traumatic stress disorder and psychiatric co-morbidity among Syrian refugees (Article)

Cheung Chung M.* , AlQarni N. , AlMazrouei M. , Al Muhairi S. , Shakra M. , Mitchell B. , Al Mazrouei S. , Al Hashimi S.
  • a The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Department of Educational Psychology, Ho Tim Building, Faculty of Education, Shatin NT, Hong Kong
  • b Zayed University, United Arab Emirates
  • c Zayed University, United Arab Emirates
  • d Zayed University, United Arab Emirates
  • e University of Helsinki, Finland
  • f Zayed University, United Arab Emirates
  • g Zayed University, United Arab Emirates
  • h Zayed University, United Arab Emirates

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of trauma exposure characteristics on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychiatric co-morbidity among Syrian refugees. One thousand one hundred and ninety-seven refugees residing in Turkey and Sweden participated in the research. They completed the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire and the General Health Questionnaire-28. Forty-three percent of refugees met the cutoff for PTSD. After adjusting for location of residence, witnessing horror and exposure to life threat and assault were significantly correlated with PTSD and psychiatric co-morbidity respectively. Death of, or life threat to family members or friends were significantly correlated with both distress outcomes. Refugees residing in Turkey had significantly higher levels of PTSD, psychiatric co-morbidity and trauma characteristics than those living in Sweden. To conclude, Syrian refugees who witnessed horror, life threat or had family or friends die, tended to have elevated psychological distress. Levels of distress among resettled refugees can vary depending on country of resettlement. We recommend systematic mental health screening and implementation of psychotherapeutic interventions to address issues pertaining to subjective experience of resettlement and trauma exposure for Syrian refugees. © 2017 Elsevier B.V.

Author Keywords

Trauma exposure Psychiatric co-morbidity Post-traumatic stress disorder Syrian refugees

Index Keywords

refugee Syrian Arab Republic human Refugees comorbidity middle aged Stress, Psychological Turkey (republic) mental stress priority journal death ethnology assault Mental Disorders mental disease Surveys and Questionnaires Sweden Humans psychology male female questionnaire Article major clinical study Syrian adult posttraumatic stress disorder Syria Turkey distress syndrome Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic General Health Questionnaire outcome assessment turkey (bird) psychotrauma life threat exposure
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85032453007&doi=10.1016%2fj.psychres.2017.10.035&partnerID=40&md5=5b62865396e352e43f55a7d0861fc942
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.10.035
ISSN: 01651781
Cited by: 9
Original Language: English