IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/hepoli/v123y2019i9p864-872.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • 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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016885101930168X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.healthpol.2019.07.008?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    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.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Fatin Atrooz & Sally Mohammad Aljararwah & Tzuan A. Chen & Omar F. Khabour & Samina Salim, 2023. "Understanding Mental Health Status of Syrian Refugee and Jordanian Women: Novel Insights from a Comparative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-14, February.
    2. 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.
    3. Walther, Lena & Fuchs, Lukas M. & Schupp, Jürgen & Scheve, Christian von, 2020. "Living Conditions and the Mental Health and Well-being of Refugees : Evidence from a Large-Scale German Survey," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 22, pages 903-913.
    4. 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.
    5. Grace Crowley, 2023. "Comment on ‘Time for hard choices – a new global order for mental health’: Why migrants should no longer be ignored," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 69(1), pages 233-234, February.
    6. Robert Doričić & Marcin Orzechowski & Marianne Nowak & Ivana Tutić Grokša & Katarzyna Bielińska & Anna Chowaniec & Mojca Ramšak & Paweł Łuków & Amir Muzur & Zvonka Zupanič-Slavec & Florian Steger, 2021. "Diversity Competency and Access to Healthcare in Hospitals in Croatia, Germany, Poland, and Slovenia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-14, November.
    7. Aarethun, V. & Sandal, G.M. & Guribye, E. & Markova, V. & Bye, H.H., 2021. "Explanatory models and help-seeking for symptoms of PTSD and depression among Syrian refugees," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    8. McDaid, David & Park, A-La, 2023. "Making an economic argument for investment in global mental health: the case of conflict-affected refugees and displaced people," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 118149, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    9. Vannaral Than & Nastaran Doroud & Lisa O’Brien, 2024. "Mental health service utilization and help seeking behaviours of adult Cambodians living in Western countries: A systematic scoping review," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 70(4), pages 778-791, June.
    10. Eva Spiritus-Beerden & An Verelst & Ines Devlieger & Nina Langer Primdahl & Fábio Botelho Guedes & Antonio Chiarenza & Stephanie De Maesschalck & Natalie Durbeej & Rocío Garrido & Margarida Gaspar de , 2021. "Mental Health of Refugees and Migrants during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Experienced Discrimination and Daily Stressors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-14, June.
    11. Michaela Hynie & Annie Jaimes & Anna Oda & Marjolaine Rivest-Beauregard & Laura Perez Gonzalez & Nicole Ives & Farah Ahmad & Ben C. H. Kuo & Neil Arya & Nimo Bokore & Kwame McKenzie, 2022. "Assessing Virtual Mental Health Access for Refugees during the COVID-19 Pandemic Using the Levesque Client-Centered Framework: What Have We Learned and How Will We Plan for the Future?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-17, April.
    12. Karin Hugelius & Maya Semrau & Marie Holmefur, 2020. "Perceived Needs Among Asylum Seekers in Sweden: A Mixed Methods Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-10, July.
    13. Krystallidou, Demi & Temizöz, Özlem & Wang, Fang & de Looper, Melanie & Maria, Emilio Di & Gattiglia, Nora & Giani, Stefano & Hieke, Graham & Morganti, Wanda & Pace, Cecilia Serena & Schouten, Barbara, 2024. "Communication in refugee and migrant mental healthcare: A systematic rapid review on the needs, barriers and strategies of seekers and providers of mental health services," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    14. Anna Leiler & Elisabet Wasteson & Joanna Holmberg & Anna Bjärtå, 2020. "A Pilot Study of a Psychoeducational Group Intervention Delivered at Asylum Accommodation Centers—A Mixed Methods Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-20, December.
    15. Poyraz Fındık, Onur Tuğçe & Çeri, Veysi & Ünver, Hatice & Perdahlı Fiş, Neşe & Rodopman Arman, Ayşe & Beşer, Can & Fadıloğlu, Eray & Anagnostopoulos, Dimitris, 2021. "Mental health need and psychiatric service utilization patterns of refugee children in Turkey: A comparative study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    16. José Renkens & Els Rommes & Maria van den Muijsenbergh, 2022. "Refugees' Agency: On Resistance, Resilience, and Resources," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-16, January.
    17. Marie Høgh Thøgersen & Line Bager & Sofie Grimshave Bangsgaard & Sabina Palic & Mikkel Auning-Hansen & Stine Bjerrum Møller & Kirstine Bruun Larsen & Louise Tækker & Bo Søndergaard Jensen & Søren Both, 2023. "The Danish Trauma Database for Refugees (DTD): A Multicenter Database Collaboration—Overcoming the Challenges and Enhancing Mental Health Treatment and Research for Refugees," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(16), pages 1-16, August.
    18. 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.
    19. Lorenzo Tarsitani & Bianca Della Rocca & Corinna Pancheri & Massimo Biondi & Massimo Pasquini & Stefano Ferracuti & Antonio Ventriglio & Gabriele Mandarelli, 2022. "Involuntary psychiatric hospitalization among migrants in Italy: A matched sample study," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 68(2), pages 429-434, March.
    20. Ana-Marija Tomasi & Shameran Slewa-Younan & Renu Narchal & Pilar Rioseco, 2022. "Professional Mental Health Help-Seeking Amongst Afghan and Iraqi Refugees in Australia: Understanding Predictors Five Years Post Resettlement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-16, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:123:y:2019:i:9:p:864-872. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu or the person in charge (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/healthpol .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.