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Asylum seekers’ mental health and treatment utilization in a three months follow-up study after transfer from a state registration-and reception-center in Germany

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  • Nikendei, Christoph
  • Kindermann, David
  • Brandenburg-Ceynowa, Hannah
  • Derreza-Greeven, Cassandra
  • Zeyher, Valentina
  • Junne, Florian
  • Friederich, Hans-Christoph
  • Bozorgmehr, Kayvan

Abstract

Even though asylum seekers show a high prevalence of trauma-related disorders and comorbid psychological stress symptoms, little is known about how their mental health develops during the asylum process and what options of care are provided. We aimed to investigate the mental health and treatment utilization of asylum seekers after they were transferred from a state registration- and reception-center to municipal shelters in Germany. N = 228 asylum seekers with on-going asylum procedure were recruited in the psychosocial walk-in clinic located in a state registration- and reception-center. We firstly captured symptoms of posttraumatic stress, depression, anxiety disorders, quality of life, as well as alcohol or drug abuse. Subsequently we performed a follow-up after three months to evaluate a potential shift in symptoms and determining rates of access to treatment. In the pre-post psychometric assessment, there were statistically significant changes in depression (PHQ-2), panic (PHQ-PD) and psychosocial well-being scores (WHO-5). However, all these scores still remained within a clinical relevant range, respectively. Traumatic stress (PC-PTSD-5) and general anxiety scores (GAD-2) did not change significantly. Although N = 44 (66%) of the interviewed patients had been referred to psychotherapy initially, none (0%) of them had received outpatient psychotherapeutic treatment after three months. Our results emphasize a strong need for low-threshold, cultural adapted psychotherapeutic treatment for asylum seekers.

Suggested Citation

  • Nikendei, Christoph & Kindermann, David & Brandenburg-Ceynowa, Hannah & Derreza-Greeven, Cassandra & Zeyher, Valentina & Junne, Florian & Friederich, Hans-Christoph & Bozorgmehr, Kayvan, 2019. "Asylum seekers’ mental health and treatment utilization in a three months follow-up study after transfer from a state registration-and reception-center in Germany," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(9), pages 864-872.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:123:y:2019:i:9:p:864-872
    DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2019.07.008
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    1. Satinsky, Emily & Fuhr, Daniela C. & Woodward, Aniek & Sondorp, Egbert & Roberts, Bayard, 2019. "Mental health care utilisation and access among refugees and asylum seekers in Europe: A systematic review," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(9), pages 851-863.
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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas Grochtdreis & Susanne Röhr & Franziska U. Jung & Michaela Nagl & Anna Renner & Anette Kersting & Steffi G. Riedel-Heller & Hans-Helmut König & Judith Dams, 2021. "Health Care Services Utilization and Health-Related Quality of Life of Syrian Refugees with Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Germany (the Sanadak Trial)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-13, March.
    2. Catharina Zehetmair & Valentina Zeyher & Anna Cranz & Beate Ditzen & Sabine C. Herpertz & Rupert Maria Kohl & Christoph Nikendei, 2021. "A Walk-In Clinic for Newly Arrived Mentally Burdened Refugees: The Patient Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-16, February.
    3. Ulrich Trohl & Karoline Wagner & Vivian Kalfa & Sarah Negash & Andreas Wienke & Amand Führer, 2021. "Sick and Tired—Sociodemographic and Psychosocial Characteristics of Asylum Seekers Awaiting an Appointment for Psychotherapy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-15, November.
    4. Olivia Magwood & Azaad Kassam & Dorsa Mavedatnia & Oreen Mendonca & Ammar Saad & Hafsa Hasan & Maria Madana & Dominique Ranger & Yvonne Tan & Kevin Pottie, 2022. "Mental Health Screening Approaches for Resettling Refugees and Asylum Seekers: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-41, March.
    5. Andrea Tortelli & Florence Perquier & Maria Melchior & François Lair & Fabien Encatassamy & Chloé Masson & Hélène K’ourio & Raphaël Gourevitch & Alain Mercuel, 2020. "Mental Health and Service Use of Migrants in Contact with the Public Psychiatry System in Paris," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-11, December.
    6. Catharina Zehetmair & David Kindermann & Inga Tegeler & Cassandra Derreza-Greeven & Anna Cranz & Hans-Christoph Friederich & Christoph Nikendei, 2021. "A Qualitative Evaluation of a Mother and Child Center Providing Psychosocial Support to Newly Arrived Female Refugees in a Registration and Reception Center in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-21, April.

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