A Comparison of Psychosocial Services for Enhancing Cultural Adaptation and Global Functioning for Immigrant Survivors of Torture

Overview

Journal J Immigr Minor Health

Publisher Springer

Specialties Public Health
Social Sciences

Date 2023 Jan 6

PMID 36607594

Authors

David E Reed 2nd

Sita G Patel

Tara Bagheri-Pele

Mina Dailami

Momachi Kapoor-Pabrai

Armina Husic

Sarita Kohli

Robert E Wickham

Lisa M Brown

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Forced migrants suffer from significant psychological distress. However, they often prioritize urgent practical resettlement needs over mental health needs. The present study used a quasi-experimental design to compare pathways of treatment for survivors of torture (N = 369) from 42 different counties receiving care from a refugee health clinic. Random intercept ANOVAs were used to compare combined case management services and psychological treatment (CM-PT) to case management services only (CM) on changes in cultural adaptation and global functioning over time. Results showed that both groups improved on each outcome. Importantly, the CM-PT group endorsed greater improvements in cultural adaptation (b = 0.28, 95% CI 0.14, 0.41, p ≤ 0.001) and global functioning (b = 3.29, 95% CI 1.33, 5.25, p = 0.001) compared to the CM group. These findings suggest that treatment for survivors of torture should be multifaceted and include case management and psychological treatment. Case management services alone may be beneficial when socio-cultural and resource barriers exist for mental health treatment.

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