Verhaltenstherapie und Verhaltensmedizin
Volume 33, Issue 1, 2012, Pages 5-19

Trauma and residency status: Impact of an insecure residency status on trauma symptoms in refugees [Trauma und aufenthaltsstatus: Elnfluss eines unsicheren aufenthaltsstatus auf die traumasymptomatik bei flüchtlingen] (Article)

Gerlach C.* , Pietrowsky R.
  • a Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Institut für Experimented Psycholocie, Abteilunc Klinische Psycholocie, Universitätsstr. 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
  • b Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Institut für Experimented Psycholocie, Abteilunc Klinische Psycholocie, Universitätsstr. 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany

Abstract

Background: The posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a disorder which occurs within refugee populations very often, seems to be influenced profoundly by postmigration stressors. Despite a darth of studies a pathogenic influence of an insecure residency status has been presumed. Method: The present study compared the PTSD-symptom severity (measured via PDS, scale 3) of 13 traumatised refugees with insecure residency status with that of 13 traumatised refugees with secure residency status. Results: The symptom severity was significantly higher in the group with insecure residency status. Subjective fear of repatriation and symptom severity correlated by r =.67. Conclusions: The results indicate a negative impact of an insecure residency status on the symptom severity of PTSD in traumatised refugees. The effects of current German residency procedures on refugee mental health and possibilities for adaptation are being discussed.

Author Keywords

Asylum Refugees Residency status PTSD Postmigration stressors

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84861415172&partnerID=40&md5=c9e107cffb4aa81a4ba5b94c29037088
ISSN: 10131973
Cited by: 2
Original Language: German