Refugees and Mental Health : Post-traumatic Stress, Crises and Diaspora

“In Syria, seeing a therapist is considered a sign that you're crazy”. Abdulaziz wishes mental health care was less taboo, especially in the Middle East, where he explains that people need it even more because of the region's problematic history.

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Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health : An international study

Background

 

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered vast governmental lockdowns. The impact of these lockdowns on mental health is inadequately understood. On the one hand such drastic changes in daily routines could be detrimental to mental health. On the other hand, it might not be experienced negatively, especially because the entire population was affected.

 

Methods

 

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People of color in North America report improvements in racial trauma and mental health symptoms following psychedelic experiences

This study examined how psychedelics reduced symptoms of racial trauma among black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) subsequent to an experience of racism. A cross-sectional internet-based survey included questions about experiences with racism, mental health symptoms, and acute and enduring psychedelic effects. Changes in mental health were assessed by retrospective report of symptoms in the 30 days before and 30 days after an experience with psilocybin, Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), or 3,4- Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).

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The long-term course of anxiety disorders : An epidemiological perspective

Anxiety disorders are very common and impose a considerable burden for patients, relatives, and society. There are several anxiety disorders, all of which are known for their often persistent course. Nevertheless, there is a lack of knowledge about its longitudinal course trajectories, which hampers prevention strategies and adjustment of treatments according to prognosis. The aim of this thesis was to get more insight into the longitudinal multi-year naturalistic course of anxiety disorders and to identify the factors that are associated with this course.

 

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Summers of war : Affective volunteer tourism to former war sites in Europe

An important aspect of contemporary volunteer tourism is generated by the possibility of having personal, emotional and affective encounters and experiences. Volunteer summer camps on former war sites, organized by the German Action Reconciliation Service for Peace (ARSP), can be regarded as an expression of a contemporary form of tourism, which consists of the development of a personal, affective, and immersive approach to learning and volunteering on former war sites.

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Molecular genetic overlap between posttraumatic stress disorder and sleep phenotypes

Study Objectives: Sleep problems are common, serving as both a predictor and symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with these bidirectional relationships well established in the literature. While both sleep phenotypes and PTSD are moderately heritable, there has been a paucity of investigation into potential genetic overlap between sleep and PTSD.

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Predicting future risk of PTSD

Data routinely collected in the emergency department after trauma have the potential to predict those at risk of later PTSD, which shows promise for computational psychiatry.

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Treatment gap in bereavement care : (Online) bereavement support needs and use after traumatic loss

People bereaved through road traffic accidents (RTAs) are at risk for severe and disabling grief (i.e., pathological grief). Knowledge about needs and use of bereavement care, including psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and support groups is limited. This study charted (correlates of) the needs and use of bereavement care in RTA bereaved people. Furthermore, while online grief treatment seems effective, it is unknown whether it is perceived as acceptable. Accordingly, we examined the acceptability of online treatment.

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Cognitive Therapy and EMDR for Reducing Psychopathology in Bereaved People After the MH17 Plane Crash : Findings From a Randomized Controlled Trial

Experiencing a sudden/violent loss of a significant other is a risk factor for developing persistent complex bereavement disorder (PCBD), depression, and/or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Cognitive therapy (CT) combined with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) might be an effective treatment for bereaved people with PCBD, depression, and/or PTSD symptoms after sudden/violent loss. We tested the effects of CT + EMDR versus waitlist controls in disaster-bereaved people.

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Psychological treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder in adults : a network meta-analysis

Background
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a potentially chronic and disabling disorder affecting a significant minority of people exposed to trauma. Various psychological treatments have been shown to be effective, but their relative effects are not well established.

Methods

We undertook a systematic review and network meta-analyses of psychological interventions for adults with PTSD. Outcomes included PTSD symptom change scores post-treatment and at 1–4-month follow-up, and remission post-treatment.

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