Post-traumatic stress disorder and subthreshold post-traumatic stress disorder in recent male asylum seekers: An expected but overlooked "European" epidemic.

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101089166 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1532-2998 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 15323005 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Stress Health Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: Chichester, West Sussex, UK : John Wiley & Sons, c2001-

Mental Health*; Refugees/*psychology ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/*diagnosis ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/*epidemiology; Adolescent ; Adult ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Humans ; Italy ; Linear Models ; Male ; Prevalence ; Severity of Illness Index ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; World Health Organization ; Young Adult

The literature shows an increased risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among illegal migrants. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of PTSD, subthreshold PTSD, the degree of disability, and differences in sociodemographic and anamnestic characteristics associated with these clinical conditions in a sample of newly arrived migrants. Two hundred male asylum seekers from West sub-Saharan Africa were evaluated for traumatic life events, PTSD symptoms, and disability through the Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5), the Primary Care PTSD Screen, the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0). The current prevalence of PTSD and subthreshold PTSD was 9.5% and 12.0%, respectively. PTSD and subthreshold PTSD subgroups presented higher WHODAS 2.0 scores and LEC-5 events, an over-representation of individuals with childhood adversities and an excess of premigration psychiatric contacts unrelated to PTSD spectrum disorders and peri-migration offences. Witnessing a traumatic event and disability in understanding and communication predicted both the presence of PTSD symptoms and PTSD status. PTSD spectrum disorders should be considered among the clinical emergencies associated with asylum seeker condition, and targeted interventions also involving the host citizens should be predisposed.
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Keywords: and cultural factors in health; ethnic; mental health; post-traumatic stress; racial

Date Created: 20191127 Date Completed: 20201027 Latest Revision: 20201027

20240104

10.1002/smi.2910

31769207