title: Belief systems as coping factors for traumatized refugees: a pilot study.
abstract: The severity of traumatization seems to correlate with a more severe course of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (and other post-traumatic disorders), while firm belief systems have been found to be a protective factor against post-traumatic disorders. This study sought to determine the role of belief systems in the outcome of psychotherapy for traumatized refugees. The charts of 141 consecutively treated refugees were evaluated retrospectively. A firm belief system was found to be an important predictor for a better therapy outcome. The importance of a firm belief system as a coping factor, which should be used as an instrument in therapy, is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martini Str. 52, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brune
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haasen
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krausz
authors.forename: Oktay
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yagdiran
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bustos
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eisenman
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003469:Culture; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy