Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and somatisation in recently arrived refugees in Germany: an epidemiological study

Abstract

Aims Despite recent worldwide migratory movements, there are only a few studies available that report robust epidemiological data on the mental health in recent refugee populations. In the present study, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and somatisation were assessed using an epidemiological approach in refugees who have recently arrived in Germany from different countries. Methods The study was conducted in a reception facility for asylum-seekers in Leipzig, Germany. A total of 1316 adult individuals arrived at the facility during the survey period (May 2017–June 2018), 569 of whom took part in the study (N = 67 pilot study and N = 502 study sample; response rate 43.2%). The questionnaire (11 different languages) included sociodemographic and flight-related questions as well as standardised instruments for assessing PTSD (PCL-5), depression (PHQ-9) and somatisation (SSS-8). Unweighted and weighted prevalence rates of PTSD, depression and somatisation were presented stratified by sex and age groups. Results According to established cut-off scores, 49.7% of the respondents screened positive for at least one of the mental disorders investigated, with 31% suffering from somatisation, 21.7% from depression and 34.9% from PTSD; prevalence rates of major depression, other depressive syndromes and PTSD were calculated according to the DSM-5, which indicated rates of 10.3, 17.6 and 28.2%, respectively. Conclusions The findings underline the dramatic mental health burden present among refugees and provide important information for health care planning. They also provide important information for health care systems and political authorities in receiving countries and strongly indicate the necessity of establishing early psychosocial support for refugees suffering from psychological distress.

Somatic distress among Syrian refugees in Germany: analysis of a cross-sectional register-based study

“…In contrast, in a study among Kosovar civilian war survivors only 12.9% of participants met the criteria for SOD (56). More similar prevalence rates to our results have been reported in studies of con ict-affected adults in Georgia with 18%, 31% in the Ukraine and a study among refugees recently arrived in Germany with 31% suffering from somatization (15,31,46). In the German general population however, the prevalence of somatization at a moderate to severe level is considerably lower, at 9.3% (57).…”

“…Among the participants screened positive for depression, 64.8% were also positively screened for somatization. Regarding the participants with PTSD, this rate was as high as 54.7% (15). These ndings suggest that somatization may be an important aspect of trauma, one of the greatest causes of emotional distress (28).…”

“…By now, there is striking evidence about a somatic comorbidity among refugees with PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorders (15,17,24,25). Especially for refugees with depression or PTSD high comorbidity rates with physical complaints have been reported (15,26,27). A recently conducted epidemiological study of 502 asylum-seekers in Germany assessed mental disorders including somatization.…”

Equity in Health Care: A Qualitative Study with Refugees, Health Care Professionals, and Administrators in One Region in Germany

“…e Report of the Migrant Integration Policy Index shows that there is still room for improvement in the field of health policy in different countries in the European Union but also in Germany [30]. An additional cost factor is the increased mental health burden within the refugee group [31,32]. One possible strategy for reducing costs was shown by a modelling study in Germany which recommended screening for depression among refugees to identify patients in need of care [33].…”

Mental disorder and PTSD in Syria during wartime: a nationwide crisis

“…Another study found that 56% of the Syrian refugees at Alzatary Camp in Jordan suffered from mental distress, and 46% believed they needed mental support (26). At least 49.7% of the refugees in Germany were screened positive for a mental disorder, with 21.7% having depression and 10.3% having major depression (27). Whilst depression was the most common mental disorder in Sweden with prevalence being 40.2% (28), a study on Syrian school students found that the depression rate was 32% in 2018 (29).…”