Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health
Volume 12, 2016, Pages 64-66

Human rights of asylum seekers with psychosocial disabilities in Europe (Article) (Open Access)

Carta M.G.* , Moro M.F. , Preti A. , Lindert J. , Bhugra D. , Angermeyer M. , Vellante M.
  • a Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria SS 554, Monserrato (Cagliari), Sardinia, 09042, Italy
  • b Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria SS 554, Monserrato (Cagliari), Sardinia, 09042, Italy, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, United States
  • c Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria SS 554, Monserrato (Cagliari), Sardinia, 09042, Italy
  • d Emden University, Germany
  • e Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
  • f Mattias Angermeyer Center for Public Mental Health, Gosim, Austria
  • g Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria SS 554, Monserrato (Cagliari), Sardinia, 09042, Italy

Abstract

Background: The migrants crossing the Mediterranean towards Europe have dramatically been increased in 2015 as the number of incidents and deaths Objective: This editorial summarizes the results of our work and highlights some critical aspects that hinder the care to asylum seekers with stress disorders. Method: Screening for mental disorders was performed in all migrants joint three camps in Sardinia (January-September 2015) using K6, Short Screening Scale for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and with an interview. Positives were evaluated by psychiatrists and if they needed, have been treated and evaluated at the start of treatment and three months later. Results: 22.1% of the sample, (22.6% female, 38.5±12.9 years) were positive for at least one screener; 8.7%, (24% female) had a diagnosis of depressive or bipolar DSM5 disorders and 7.6%, (25% female) of PTSD. After three months of treatment: 51 treated people (26.8%) had left the camps. 53.1% of those remaining declared had relatives in northern Europe that they wanted to reach. Only 8.3% showed a significant clinical improvement. Conclusion: Clinical improvement was dramatically poor in people who stay in the camps. Dissatisfaction and feeling they could not join relatives may have had a negative impact. In PTSD, with the experience of torture and seeing family members killed, staying with surviving relatives in stable conditions would be an important part of treatment. From this point of view the UE Dublin Regulation seems not to be in agreement with the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities © Carta et al.; Licensee Bentham Open.

Author Keywords

Europe Asylum seekers PTSD mood disorders UN CRPD

Index Keywords

depression Europe human psychosocial disorder bipolar disorder human rights psychotherapy mental disease asylum seeker migrant male female Article mood stabilizer major clinical study adult posttraumatic stress disorder neuroleptic agent antidepressant agent
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84992036688&doi=10.2174%2f1745017901612010064&partnerID=40&md5=251d63468217e215acc57c854a5bc53a
DOI: 10.2174/1745017901612010064
ISSN: 17450179
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English