Traumatized parents and their relationship with their children in a historical and cultural perspective Whether or not children can be affected by the traumatization of their parents has been the topic of a longstanding discussion. Clinical reports emphasized the severity of parental emotional problems and subsequent transmission of such problems across generations, but most systematic and controlled studies have not found any extreme psychopathology. However, research could have been biased as it reported on grown-up children of parents with traumatic experiences.

In this paper, the theme of the special issue on Culture and Trauma is introduced. In both empirically oriented articles as well as theoretical and contemplative contributions, the role of culture and migration context in the development of psychological problems following trauma, culture-specific or generic coping with the consequences, help-seeking behavior, and the need for culturally sensitive treatment is explored.

Tal van psychodiagnostische instrumenten zijn niet gevalideerd voor etnisch-culturele minderheidsgroepen in Nederland. In dit boek, bedoeld voor de interculturele hulpverleningspraktijk van de GGZ, worden de problemen in de interculturele psychodiagnostiek geschetst. Er worden methoden aangereikt hoe op een professionele manier deze problemen het hoofd te bieden. Aan de hand van casuïstiek geven interculturele hulpverleners inzicht in hoe psychologische instrumenten kunnen worden toegepast op een cultuur sensitieve manier.

The problems of asylum seekers are multiple and complex. Next to having experienced a lot of adversities in their country of origin, when they arrive in a host country they face a (usually long) asylum procedure and a multitude of post-migration living problems. Literature shows high prevalence rates of mental disorders and low quality of life. The length of the asylum procedure is an even more important risk factor for psychopathology than the adverse life events in the country of origin.