ARQ Centrum’45 (en)

Refugees and asylum seekers exposed to cumulative stress due to organized violence, forced migration and then lengthy asylum procedures have a significant risk of suffering from a number of serious complaints. This chapter describes a systemic approach to prevention and psychosocial interventions for traumatized refugee families that has been developed in the authors' institute.

Background: Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in refugees is reportedly higher in comparison to the general population. Refugee children specifically are often coping with trauma and loss and are at risk for mental health difficulties. With staggering numbers of people seeking refuge around the world and 50% being 18 years or younger, research examining the effects of trauma-focused therapies for refugee children with PTSD is highly needed.

Torture may be associated with long-lasting somatic symptoms, only partly explained by physical injuries. Physical pain as a result of torture may seriously complicate the diagnostics and treatment of posttraumatic pathology in refugees. The question whether a relation exists between the experience of torture and the extent of reported medically unexplained physical symptoms, is therefore highly relevant. We firstly hypothesized that refugees who underwent torture will report more somatic symptoms, as operationalized by experienced pain, than refugees without a history of torture.

Background: An emerging body of empirical research on trauma-focused interventions for older adults experiencing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder or PTSD has yielded encouraging results. Nevertheless, up to date, the evidence remains scattered and is developed within rather specific groups, while studies have focused mostly on individual psychopathology, overlooking the relevance of resilience and recovering in one's social environment.

Purpose
This study aims to focus on the avoidance and anxiety attachment patterns among unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs) after resettlement in Norway. The authors explored the extent of stability and change in these attachment patterns and the role of demographic and interpersonal predictors of change in levels of attachment insecurity.

BACKGROUND
The capacity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to occur with delayed onset has been documented in several systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Neurobiological models of PTSD may provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the progressive increase in PTSD symptoms over time as well as into occasional occurrences of long-delayed PTSD with few prodromal symptoms. 

AIM
To obtain an overview of key concepts explaining and types of evidence supporting neurobiological underpinnings of delayed PTSD. 

Objective: Using data from a randomized controlled trial on psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in older adults (aged >55), this study aimed at analysing the efficacy of two psychological interventions in terms of self-reported symptoms, comorbid  psychopathology and resilience outcomes.

With the application of virtual reality (VR), tailored interventions can be created that mirror the traumatic experiences of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Visual elements can be mimicked, and auditory and other senses stimulated. In doing so, the degree of immersion can be adjusted to optimize the therapeutic process.

Objective: This study aimed to identify latent classes of adjustment in children confronted with parental cancer, based on profiles of traumatic stress symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and satisfaction with life. In addition, correlates of classes were examined.

This chapter addresses resilience and identity in victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation. We will consider sexual exploitation as defined by commercial sexual acts which are forced by either physical or psychological means, and for which one receives no or insufficient compensation. We will first introduce various concepts relevant for understanding what factors impact resilience in victims of sexual exploitation.