title: Trauma exposure and refugee status as predictors of mental health outcomes in treatment-seeking refugees.
abstract: Aims and method This study aimed to identify predictors of symptom severity for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression in asylum seekers and refugees referred to a specialised mental health centre. Trauma exposure (number and domain of event), refugee status and severity of PTSD and depression were assessed in 688 refugees. Results Symptom severity of PTSD and depression was significantly associated with lack of refugee status and accumulation of traumatic events. Four domains of traumatic events (human rights abuse, lack of necessities, traumatic loss, and separation from others) were not uniquely associated with symptom severity. All factors taken together explained 11% of variance in PTSD and depression. Clinical implications To account for multiple predictors of symptom severity including multiple traumatic events, treatment for traumatised refugees may need to be multimodal and enable the processing of multiple traumatic memories within a reasonable time-frame.
authors.affiliation: Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group, Diemen/Oegstgeest, The Netherlands; Utrecht University, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jeroen W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Knipscheer
authors.affiliation: Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group, Diemen/Oegstgeest, The Netherlands; Utrecht University, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sleijpen
authors.affiliation: Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group, Diemen/Oegstgeest, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Trudy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mooren
authors.affiliation: Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group, Diemen/Oegstgeest, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: F Jackie June
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Ter Heide
authors.affiliation: Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group, Diemen/Oegstgeest, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van der Aa