Swiss medical weekly
Volume 146, 2016

Somatisation and anger are associated with symptom severity of posttraumatic stress disorder in severely traumatised refugees and asylum seekers (Article) (Open Access)

Spiller T.R. , Schick M. , Schnyder U. , Bryant R.A. , Nickerson A. , Morina N.
  • a University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  • b University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  • c University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  • d University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  • e University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  • f University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Most research on refugee mental health has focused on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Besides PTSD, however, traumatised refugees are often burdened by comorbid somatic and psychiatric conditions, as well as postmigration living difficulties (PMLD). It is unclear how these conditions interfere with presentation and treatment of PTSD.METHODS: This preliminary cross-sectional study investigated 134 severely traumatised refugees and asylum seekers in treatment in two psychiatric outpatient units in Switzerland. Trauma exposure, PMLD, somatisation and explosive anger were assessed and related to symptom severity of PTSD using correlation and regression analyses.RESULTS: PTSD symptoms were significantly related to somatisation, anger, PMLD and trauma exposure. Regression analysis revealed that PTSD symptoms were mainly predicted by somatisation and anger.CONCLUSIONS: Symptom severity of PTSD is associated with somatisation, explosive anger and, to a lesser extent, PMLD. Standard PTSD treatment may benefit from implementing targeted strategies to assess and address these factors in traumatised refugees.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

refugee Wounds and Injuries human injury Refugees comorbidity Self Report anger Cross-Sectional Studies Surveys and Questionnaires cross-sectional study Humans psychology Severity of Illness Index male female questionnaire adult Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Switzerland
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85029668104&doi=10.4414%2fsmw.2016.14311&partnerID=40&md5=8a5cabaf0c4d4cf034fbd304ee918bea
DOI: 10.4414/smw.2016.14311
ISSN: 14243997
Cited by: 8
Original Language: English