Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume 118, 2019, Pages 83-97

Chronic pain in refugees with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD): A systematic review on patients' characteristics and specific interventions (Review)

Rometsch-Ogioun El Sount C.* , Windthorst P. , Denkinger J. , Ziser K. , Nikendei C. , Kindermann D. , Ringwald J. , Renner V. , Zipfel S. , Junne F.
  • a Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Osianderstr. 5, Tuebingen, 72076, Germany
  • b Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Osianderstr. 5, Tuebingen, 72076, Germany
  • c Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Osianderstr. 5, Tuebingen, 72076, Germany
  • d Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Osianderstr. 5, Tuebingen, 72076, Germany
  • e Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany
  • f Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany
  • g Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Osianderstr. 5, Tuebingen, 72076, Germany
  • h Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Osianderstr. 5, Tuebingen, 72076, Germany, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
  • i Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Osianderstr. 5, Tuebingen, 72076, Germany
  • j Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Osianderstr. 5, Tuebingen, 72076, Germany

Abstract

Objective: Chronic pain in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a frequent symptom and a complicating factor in the treatment of patients. The study’ purpose is to systematically review the scientific literature on patients' characteristics and the effects of specific interventions implemented for the treatment of chronic pain in traumatized refugees. Method: A systematic search of the current literature was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science, from 1996 to 2017. A structured screening process in accordance with the PRISMA-statement was used with eligibility criteria based on the modified PICOS-criteria including refugees with chronic pain and diagnosed PTSD to investigate sample size, gender, country of origin, residential status, pain locations, predictors and correlations and type and efficacy of specific interventions. Results: The initial search resulted in a total of 2169 references, leading to 15 included studies. Most frequently, patients reported headaches, backaches, and pain in the arms and legs. Pain symptoms were associated with higher age, female gender, general living difficulties and PTSD symptoms. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and, Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) with biofeedback, manualized trauma psychotherapy, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Emotional Freedom Techniques were evaluated as specific interventions, resulting in positive outcomes for both pain severity and PTSD symptoms. Conclusions: To date, the existing literature shows scarce evidence evaluating specific interventions that address the needs of traumatized refugees with chronic pain. However, the current reported evidence allows for a preliminary evaluation of the characterizations of patient dimensions as well as promising results found in intervention studies. © 2018 Elsevier Inc.

Author Keywords

pain trauma posttraumatic stress disorder Refugees PTSD Chronic pain

Index Keywords

refugee backache leg pain human cognitive behavioral therapy narrative therapy emotional freedom technique pelvis pain syndrome exposure therapy biofeedback Medline screening psychotherapy acupuncture headache Web of Science Chinese medicine arm pain Review emotion gender age pain severity posttraumatic stress disorder medical literature systematic review clinical effectiveness Chronic Pain
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85050878404&doi=10.1016%2fj.jpsychores.2018.07.014&partnerID=40&md5=a46a51b102fa0b56ffec98c0f73c850e
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2018.07.014
ISSN: 00223999
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English