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Does Time Heal Trauma? 18 Month Follow-Up Study of Syrian Refugees’ Mental Health in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region

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  • Harem Nareeman Mahmood

    (Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Bielefeld University, 33501 Bielefeld, Germany
    Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Science and Health, Koya University, Koy Sanjaq 46017, Iraq)

  • Hawkar Ibrahim

    (Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Bielefeld University, 33501 Bielefeld, Germany
    vivo International, 78430 Konstanz, Germany)

  • Azad Ali Ismail

    (Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Science and Health, Koya University, Koy Sanjaq 46017, Iraq)

  • Frank Neuner

    (Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Bielefeld University, 33501 Bielefeld, Germany
    vivo International, 78430 Konstanz, Germany)

Abstract

The findings of longitudinal studies on traumatized refugees have shown that factors related to premigration, migration, and post-migration experiences determine changes in mental health over time. The primary aim of this follow-up study was to examine the potential change in the prevalence rates of probable PTSD and depression among Syrian refugees in Iraq. An unselected group of N = 92 Syrian adult refugees was recruited from Arbat camps in Sulaymaniyah Governorate in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, and then interviewed at two different time points between July 2017 and January 2019. Locally validated instruments were used to assess traumatic events and mental health symptoms. The primary results showed no significant change in the mean scores of PTSD and depression symptoms from the first measurement to the second measurement over the course of 18 months. On the individual level, no reliable change was found for either PTSD or depression symptoms in more than three-quarters of the participants (78.3% and 77.2%, respectively). New adversities and traumatic events that occurred over the 18 months between the interviews were a significant predictor of increasing trauma-related symptoms. After the flight from conflict settings, trauma-related disorders seem to be chronic for the majority of Syrian refugees. Further longitudinal studies are needed in order to identify specific risk factors that lead to maintaining or worsening mental health symptoms over time, and to explore effective therapeutic intervention methods for this traumatized population.

Suggested Citation

  • Harem Nareeman Mahmood & Hawkar Ibrahim & Azad Ali Ismail & Frank Neuner, 2022. "Does Time Heal Trauma? 18 Month Follow-Up Study of Syrian Refugees’ Mental Health in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-11, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:22:p:14910-:d:971002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ekaterini Georgiadou & Eva Morawa & Yesim Erim, 2017. "High Manifestations of Mental Distress in Arabic Asylum Seekers Accommodated in Collective Centers for Refugees in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-13, June.
    2. Lindert, Jutta & Ehrenstein, Ondine S. von & Priebe, Stefan & Mielck, Andreas & Brähler, Elmar, 2009. "Depression and anxiety in labor migrants and refugees - A systematic review and meta-analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(2), pages 246-257, July.
    3. Goessmann, Katharina & Ibrahim, Hawkar & Saupe, Laura Bebra & Ismail, Azad Ali & Neuner, Frank, 2019. "The contribution of mental health and gender attitudes to intimate partner violence in the context of war and displacement: Evidence from a multi-informant couple survey in Iraq," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 237(C), pages 1-1.
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