scholarly journals The prevalence of mental illness in refugees and asylum seekers: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PLoS Medicine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. e1003337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Blackmore ◽  
Jacqueline A. Boyle ◽  
Mina Fazel ◽  
Sanjeeva Ranasinha ◽  
Kylie M. Gray ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers

scholarly journals Active and latent tuberculosis among refugees and asylum seekers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Proenca ◽  
Fernanda Mattos Souza ◽  
Mayara Lisboa Bastos ◽  
Rosangela Caetano ◽  
Jose Ueleres Braga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis Infection ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Country Of Origin ◽  
Forced Migration ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis ◽  
Tuberculosis Infection ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers ◽  
Tuberculosis Prevalence

Abstract Background: In 2017, there were 68.5 million refugees, asylum seekers and persons displaced by wars and conflicts worldwide. Tuberculosis prevalence in the country of origin and adverse conditions endured during their journey may increase their risk for tuberculosis. Objective: We summarized the prevalence of active and latent tuberculosis infection among refugees and asylum seekers through a literature systematic review and meta-analysis by country of origin. Methods: Articles published in Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science and LILACS from 2000 to August 2017 were searched for, without language restriction. Two independent authors performed the study selection, data extraction and quality assessment. Random effect models were used to estimate pooled measures of active and latent tuberculosis prevalence. Sub-group analysis was performed according to country of origin and host continent. Results: Sixty-seven out of 767 identified papers were included, of which 16 entered the meta-analysis. Pooled prevalence of active and latent tuberculosis was 1% [95% confidence interval (CI)=1-2%] and 37% (95% CI=23-52%), respectively, both with high level of heterogeneity (I 2 =98.2% and 99.8%). Prevalence varied more according to countries of origin than host continent. Ninety-one per cent of studies reported routine screening of recently arrived immigrants in the host country; two-thirds confirmed tuberculosis bacteriologically. Many studies failed to provide relevant information. Conclusion: Tuberculosis is a major health problem among refugees and asylum seekers and should be given special attention in any host continent. To protect this vulnerable population, ensuring access to healthcare for early detection for prevention and treatment of the disease is essential. Key words: Forced migration. Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. Latent tuberculosis infection. Prevalence. Global health.

scholarly journals Active and latent tuberculosis in refugees and asylum seekers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Proença ◽  
Fernanda Mattos Souza ◽  
Mayara Lisboa Bastos ◽  
Rosângela Caetano ◽  
José Ueleres Braga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers

scholarly journals Efficacy and acceptability of psychosocial interventions in asylum seekers and refugees: systematic review and meta-analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (04) ◽  
pp. 376-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Turrini ◽  
M. Purgato ◽  
C. Acarturk ◽  
M. Anttila ◽  
T. Au ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Psychosocial Interventions ◽  
Moderate Quality ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers ◽  
Quality Evidence

AbstractAimsIn the past few years, there has been an unprecedented increase in the number of forcibly displaced migrants worldwide, of which a substantial proportion is refugees and asylum seekers. Refugees and asylum seekers may experience high levels of psychological distress, and show high rates of mental health conditions. It is therefore timely and particularly relevant to assess whether current evidence supports the provision of psychosocial interventions for this population. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the efficacy and acceptability of psychosocial interventions compared with control conditions (treatment as usual/no treatment, waiting list, psychological placebo) aimed at reducing mental health problems in distressed refugees and asylum seekers.MethodsWe used Cochrane procedures for conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs. We searched for published and unpublished RCTs assessing the efficacy and acceptability of psychosocial interventions in adults and children asylum seekers and refugees with psychological distress. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depressive and anxiety symptoms at post-intervention were the primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes include: PTSD, depressive and anxiety symptoms at follow-up, functioning, quality of life and dropouts due to any reason.ResultsWe included 26 studies with 1959 participants. Meta-analysis of RCTs revealed that psychosocial interventions have a clinically significant beneficial effect on PTSD (standardised mean difference [SMD] = −0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI] −1.01 to −0.41; I2 = 83%; 95% CI 78–88; 20 studies, 1370 participants; moderate quality evidence), depression (SMD = −1.02; 95% CI −1.52 to −0.51; I2 = 89%; 95% CI 82–93; 12 studies, 844 participants; moderate quality evidence) and anxiety outcomes (SMD = −1.05; 95% CI −1.55 to −0.56; I2 = 87%; 95% CI 79–92; 11 studies, 815 participants; moderate quality evidence). This beneficial effect was maintained at 1 month or longer follow-up, which is extremely important for populations exposed to ongoing post-migration stressors. For the other secondary outcomes, we identified a non-significant trend in favour of psychosocial interventions. Most evidence supported interventions based on cognitive behavioural therapies with a trauma-focused component. Limitations of this review include the limited number of studies collected, with a relatively low total number of participants, and the limited available data for positive outcomes like functioning and quality of life.ConclusionsConsidering the epidemiological relevance of psychological distress and mental health conditions in refugees and asylum seekers, and in view of the existing data on the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions, these interventions should be routinely made available as part of the health care of distressed refugees and asylum seekers. Evidence-based guidelines and implementation packages should be developed accordingly.

Overcoming the deficiency of refugee mental health research

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina Kalfic ◽  
Glenn Mitchell ◽  
Lezanne Ooi ◽  
Sibylle Schwab ◽  
Natalie Matosin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Scientific Discovery ◽  
Mental Health Research ◽  
Psychiatric Research ◽  
Risk And Resilience ◽  
Refugee Mental Health ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers

The growing number of refugees and asylum seekers are one of the most significant global challenges of this generation. We are currently witnessing the highest level of displacement in history, with over 65 million displaced people in the world. Refugees and asylum seekers are at higher risk to develop mental illness due to their trauma and chronic stress exposures, and particularly post-migration stressors. Yet global and Australian psychiatric research in this area is greatly lacking, particularly with respect to our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of risk and resilience to mental illness in traumatised populations. In this Viewpoint, we explore the reasons behind the lack of refugee mental health research and use this context to propose new ways forward. We believe that scientific discovery performed with a multidisciplinary approach will provide the broad evidence-base required to improve refugee mental health. This will also allow us to work towards the removal of damaging policies that prolong and potentiate mental health deterioration among refugees and asylum seekers, which impacts not only on the individuals but also host countries’ social, economic and healthcare systems.

scholarly journals A network meta-analysis of psychosocial interventions for refugees and asylum seekers with PTSD

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. e005029
Author(s):  
Giulia Turrini ◽  
Federico Tedeschi ◽  
Pim Cuijpers ◽  
Cinzia Del Giovane ◽  
Ahlke Kip ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Psychosocial Interventions ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Treatment As Usual ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers

IntroductionRefugees and asylum seekers are vulnerable to common mental disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Using a network meta-analysis (NMA) approach, the present systematic review compared and ranked psychosocial interventions for the treatment of PTSD in adult refugees and asylum seekers.MethodsRandomised studies of psychosocial interventions for adult refugees and asylum seekers with PTSD were systematically identified. PTSD symptoms at postintervention was the primary outcome. Standardised mean differences (SMDs) and ORs were pooled using pairwise and NMA. Study quality was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB) tool, and certainty of evidence was assessed through the Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis application.ResultsA total of 23 studies with 2308 participants were included. Sixteen studies were conducted in high-income countries, and seven in low-income or middle-income countries. Most studies were at low risk of bias according to the Cochrane RoB tool. NMA on PTSD symptoms showed that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) (SMD=−1.41; 95% CI −2.43 to −0.38) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) (SMD=−1.30; 95% CI −2.40 to −0.20) were significantly more effective than waitlist (WL). CBT was also associated with a higher decrease in PTSD symptoms than treatment as usual (TAU) (SMD −1.51; 95% CI −2.67 to −0.36). For all other interventions, the difference with WL and TAU was not significant. CBT and EMDR ranked best according to the mean surface under the cumulative ranking. Regarding acceptability, no intervention had less dropouts than inactive interventions.ConclusionCBT and EMDR appeared to have the greatest effects in reducing PTSD symptoms in asylum seekers and refugees. This evidence should be considered in guidelines and implementation packages to facilitate dissemination and uptake in refugee settings.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document