Abstract
There is an increasing need to deliver effective mental health services to refugee children and adolescents across the United States; however, the evidence base needed to guide the design and delivery of services is nascent. We investigated the trauma history profiles, psychopathology, and associated behavioral and functional indicators among war-affected refugee children presenting for psychological treatment. From the National Child Traumatic Stress Network's Core Data Set, 60 war-affected refugee children were identified (51.7% males, mean age = 13.1 years, SD = 4.13). Clinical assessments indicated high rates of probable posttraumatic stress disorder (30.4%), generalized anxiety (26.8%), somatization (26.8%), traumatic grief (21.4%), and general behavioral problems (21.4%). Exposure to war or political violence frequently co-occurred with forced displacement; traumatic loss; bereavement or separation; exposure to community violence; and exposure to domestic violence. Academic problems and behavioral difficulties were prevalent (53.6% and 44.6%, respectively); however, criminal activity, alcohol/drug use, and self-harm were rare (all <5.45%). These findings highlight the complex trauma profiles, comorbid conditions, and functional problems that are important to consider in providing mental health interventions for refugee children and adolescents. Given the difficulties associated with access to mental health services for refugees, both preventive and community-based interventions within family, school, and peer systems hold particular promise.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 682-690 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Journal of Traumatic Stress |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 2012 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Clinical Psychology
Cite this
Trauma history and psychopathology in war-affected refugee children referred for trauma-related mental health services in the United States. / Betancourt, Theresa S.; Newnham, Elizabeth A.; Layne, Christopher M.; Kim, Soeun; Steinberg, Alan M.; Ellis, Heidi; Birman, Dina.
In: Journal of Traumatic Stress, Vol. 25, No. 6, 12.2012, p. 682-690.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Trauma history and psychopathology in war-affected refugee children referred for trauma-related mental health services in the United States
AU - Betancourt, Theresa S.
AU - Newnham, Elizabeth A.
AU - Layne, Christopher M.
AU - Kim, Soeun
AU - Steinberg, Alan M.
AU - Ellis, Heidi
AU - Birman, Dina
PY - 2012/12
Y1 - 2012/12
N2 - There is an increasing need to deliver effective mental health services to refugee children and adolescents across the United States; however, the evidence base needed to guide the design and delivery of services is nascent. We investigated the trauma history profiles, psychopathology, and associated behavioral and functional indicators among war-affected refugee children presenting for psychological treatment. From the National Child Traumatic Stress Network's Core Data Set, 60 war-affected refugee children were identified (51.7% males, mean age = 13.1 years, SD = 4.13). Clinical assessments indicated high rates of probable posttraumatic stress disorder (30.4%), generalized anxiety (26.8%), somatization (26.8%), traumatic grief (21.4%), and general behavioral problems (21.4%). Exposure to war or political violence frequently co-occurred with forced displacement; traumatic loss; bereavement or separation; exposure to community violence; and exposure to domestic violence. Academic problems and behavioral difficulties were prevalent (53.6% and 44.6%, respectively); however, criminal activity, alcohol/drug use, and self-harm were rare (all <5.45%). These findings highlight the complex trauma profiles, comorbid conditions, and functional problems that are important to consider in providing mental health interventions for refugee children and adolescents. Given the difficulties associated with access to mental health services for refugees, both preventive and community-based interventions within family, school, and peer systems hold particular promise.
AB - There is an increasing need to deliver effective mental health services to refugee children and adolescents across the United States; however, the evidence base needed to guide the design and delivery of services is nascent. We investigated the trauma history profiles, psychopathology, and associated behavioral and functional indicators among war-affected refugee children presenting for psychological treatment. From the National Child Traumatic Stress Network's Core Data Set, 60 war-affected refugee children were identified (51.7% males, mean age = 13.1 years, SD = 4.13). Clinical assessments indicated high rates of probable posttraumatic stress disorder (30.4%), generalized anxiety (26.8%), somatization (26.8%), traumatic grief (21.4%), and general behavioral problems (21.4%). Exposure to war or political violence frequently co-occurred with forced displacement; traumatic loss; bereavement or separation; exposure to community violence; and exposure to domestic violence. Academic problems and behavioral difficulties were prevalent (53.6% and 44.6%, respectively); however, criminal activity, alcohol/drug use, and self-harm were rare (all <5.45%). These findings highlight the complex trauma profiles, comorbid conditions, and functional problems that are important to consider in providing mental health interventions for refugee children and adolescents. Given the difficulties associated with access to mental health services for refugees, both preventive and community-based interventions within family, school, and peer systems hold particular promise.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84870756718&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84870756718&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/jts.21749
DO - 10.1002/jts.21749
M3 - Article
C2 - 23225034
AN - SCOPUS:84870756718
VL - 25
SP - 682
EP - 690
JO - Journal of Traumatic Stress
JF - Journal of Traumatic Stress
SN - 0894-9867
IS - 6
ER -