Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
Volume 46, Issue 10, 2012, Pages 995-1003

A longitudinal study of mental health in refugees from Burma: The impact of therapeutic interventions (Article)

Van Wyk S. , Schweitzer R.* , Brough M. , Vromans L. , Murray K.
  • a School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Road, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
  • b School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Road, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
  • c School of Social Work and Human Services, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
  • d School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Road, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
  • e San Diego State University, University of California, San Diego Cancer Center Comprehensive Partnership, San Diego, United States

Abstract

Objective: The present study seeks to examine the impact of therapeutic interventions for people from refugee backgrounds within a naturalistic setting. Methods: Sixty-two refugees from Burma were assessed soon after arriving in Australia. All participants received standard interventions provided by a resettlement organisation which included therapeutic interventions, assessment, social assistance, and referrals where appropriate. At the completion of service provision a follow-up assessment was conducted. Results: Over the course of the intervention, participants experienced a significant decrease in symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and somatisation. Pre-intervention symptoms predicted symptoms postintervention for post-traumatic stress, anxiety and somatisation. Post-migration living difficulties, the number of traumas experienced, and the number of contacts with the service agency were unrelated to all mental health outcomes. Conclusions: In the first Australian study of its kind, reductions in mental health symptoms post-intervention were significantly linked to pre-intervention symptomatology and the number of therapy sessions predicted post-intervention symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Future studies need to include larger samples and control groups to verify findings. © 2012 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.

Author Keywords

Mental health Burma Refugees Evaluation Intervention studies

Index Keywords

depression longitudinal study refugee mental health service anxiety disorder Australia Marital Therapy psychoeducation Family Therapy follow up mental health human Longitudinal Studies Refugees middle aged Aged social support cognitive therapy checklist Mental Disorders psychotherapy Young Adult Humans Treatment Outcome Adolescent male female Aged, 80 and over patient referral Psychiatric Status Rating Scales Myanmar Article health care organization major clinical study adult migration posttraumatic stress disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic outcome assessment somatization
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84873617869&doi=10.1177%2f0004867412443059&partnerID=40&md5=409fa463d83bf8b769cd5443e3179217
DOI: 10.1177/0004867412443059
ISSN: 00048674
Cited by: 22
Original Language: English