Addressing war trauma in Ukrainian refugees before it is too late

Russian invasion of Ukraine has led to one of the largest refugee crises in recent history. Many internally displaced Ukrainians and refugees will need care for PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Here I will suggest practical steps to reduce long-term impact of trauma and stress on refugees’ mental and physical health, and functioning. These include mental health first aid in acute phase of arrival, education of mental health and navigating healthcare system in the host countries.

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Mental health professionals’ perspective on a brief transdiagnostic psychological intervention for Afghan asylum seekers and refugees

Background: While many elaborated treatment protocols focus on post-traumatic stress symptoms, a large number of refugees suffer from a range of mental health problems. Thus, brief and transdiagnostic psychological interventions may be helpful first interventions for help-seeking refugees and asylum seekers in a stepped-care approach.

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The impact of morally injurious events in a refugee sample : A quantitative and qualitative study.

Background: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is often reported by refugees that faced violence and persecution. Some stressful events may also entail moral conflicts or dilemmas, described as “potentially morally injurious events” (PMIE). Very few studies have yet investigated the nature of these PMIEs in traumatized refugees, using both quantitative and qualitative data.

 

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Distinctive impacts of sexual trauma versus non-sexual trauma on PTSD profiles in highly trauma-exposed, Black women

Background

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Adiponectin gene polymorphisms and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among female rape survivors : an exploratory study

Background: Rape is a common traumatic event which may result in the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), yet few studies have investigated risk biomarkers in sexually traumatised individuals. Adiponectin is a novel cytokine within inflammatory and cardiometabolic pathways with evidence of involvement in PTSD.

 

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Predictors of acute stress disorder in victims of violence in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

Background: The Democratic Republic of the Congo underwent more than 25 years of war resulting in millions of deaths and in survivants struggling with trauma related disorders. The factors contributing to acute stress disorder following a traumatic event remain little understood. Emotion regulation might play a role in the development of acute stress disorder among victims of war-related violence.

 

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The psychological consequences of the Ukraine war : What we know, and what we have to learn

Invited Editorial

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Advocacy for a coordinated and safe response for the mental health and psychosocial needs of children affected by the conflict in Ukraine

The ongoing military actions in Ukraine pose an immediate and growing threat to the lives and well-being of at least 7.5 million children. This situation creates further challenges for many children and adolescents already struggling after nearly 8 years of conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has had a devastating impact on their mental health and well-being. Beyond the direct ones, there are also indirect effects associated with a profound and potentially long-lasting impact on the psychological well-being of an entire generation of children.

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Investigating the role of residential migration history on the relationship between attachment and sense of belonging : A SEM approach

With the rate of both domestic and international migration steadily increasing, the psychological impact of residential migration remains largely unexplored. Attachment, the emotional bond we establish with those close to us, and sense of belonging, the feeling of connectedness to a community, may be vulnerable to frequent migration.

 

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Help-Seeking Undocumented Migrants in the Netherlands : Mental Health, Adverse Life Events, and Living Conditions

Undocumented migrants are a particularly vulnerable group regarding (mental) health, living conditions, and restricted access to health care. The aim and objective of the study was to examine the prevalence and correlates of mental health problems in a help-seeking population of undocumented migrants. Observational study was performed by integrating cross-sectional questionnaire data with retrospective electronic patient record data.

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