Studies
This library hosts materials developed by Switchboard and by former Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)-funded technical assistance (TA) providers (most in fiscal years 2016-2018, with selected earlier materials). This library links materials externally where: their formats were incompatible with internal hosting; they were developed by current ORR-funded TA providers; or they were developed by non-ORR funded authors who granted permission for the links.
Author Definitions
Free Full TextThe effectiveness of psychosocial interventions in war-traumatized refugee and internally displaced minors: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Publication Year: 2017
Outcome area(s): Mental Health
Outcome(s): Loss
Intervention(s): Various
Relevant ORR Program(s): Refugee Health Promotion
Direction of Evidence: Inconclusive or mixed impact
Strength of Evidence: Strong
Type of Study: Meta-analysis
Background: The United Nations reported that in 2016 over 65 million people worldwide have forcibly left home. Over 50% are children and adolescents; a substantial number has been traumatized and displaced by war. Objective: To provide an overview of the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions in this group we conducted a narrative review and a meta-analysis …
Free Full TextDay patient treatment for traumatic grief: Preliminary evaluation of a one-year treatment programme for patients with multiple and traumatic losses
Publication Year: 2017
Outcome area(s): Mental Health
Outcome(s): PTSD Reduction
Intervention(s): Psychotherapy
Relevant ORR Program(s): Refugee Health Promotion
Direction of Evidence: Positive impact
Strength of Evidence: Suggestive
Type of Study: Suggestive evidence
Background: Bereaved individuals who have lost a loved one under traumatic circumstances can develop symptoms of Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder (PCBD) and/or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This is particularly common in refugees, as they frequently have been confronted with multiple traumatic losses. For patients with severe PTSD and traumatic grief a treatment programme was developed, …
Paid Full TextEmbroidery (tatriz) and Syrian refugees: Exploring loss and hope through storytelling
Publication Year: 2020
Outcome area(s): Mental Health
Outcome(s): Loss
Intervention(s): Embroidery
Relevant ORR Program(s): Not applicable
Direction of Evidence: Positive impact
Strength of Evidence: Suggestive
Type of Study: Suggestive evidence
Canada is now home to at least 44,615 Syrian refugees. Of these refugees, four out of five are women and children. There is a clear need for an increase in mental health resources, resource accessibility, and social connection for Syrian refugees. This paper describes a Syrian refugee women’s embroidery program that provided both an accessible …
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Paid Full TextA systematic review of school-based social-emotional interventions for refugee and war-traumatized youth
Publication Year: 2016
Outcome area(s): Mental Health
Intervention(s): Various
Relevant ORR Program(s): Children's Services
Direction of Evidence: Inconclusive or mixed impact
Strength of Evidence: Strong
Type of Study: Systematic review
Refugees often experience significant psychological distress, but many do not receive necessary services. Among children and youth, most mental health services are provided by schools, so schools are an important service provider for young refugees. We conducted a systemic literature review to synthesize and evaluate the existing research on school-based interventions to improve mental health …
Brief imagery rescripting vs. usual care and treatment advice in refugees with posttraumatic stress disorder: Study protocol for a multi-center randomized-control trial
Publication Year: 2021
Outcome area(s): Mental Health
Outcome(s): Loss
Intervention(s): Various
Relevant ORR Program(s): Refugee Health Promotion
Direction of Evidence: Positive impact
Strength of Evidence: Moderate
Type of Study: Impact evaluation
Background: Many refugees have experienced multiple traumatic events in their country of origin and/or during flight. Trauma-related disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or complex PTSD (CPTSD) are prevalent in this population, which highlights the need for accessible and effective treatment. Imagery Rescripting (ImRs), an imagery-based treatment that does not use formal exposure and …
Free Full TextNarrative exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Publication Year: 2021
Outcome(s): PTSD Reduction
Intervention(s): NET
Relevant ORR Program(s): Children's Services, Refugee Health Promotion, Refugee School Impact Program, Refugee Support Services, Targeted Assistance Grant Discretionary Program, Unaccompanied Refugee Minors, Wilson/Fish, Youth Mentoring
Direction of Evidence: Inconclusive or mixed impact
Strength of Evidence: Strong
Type of Study: Meta-analysis
Objective: Narrative exposure therapy (NET) is a psychological intervention conditionally recommended for the prevention and intervention of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previous study reported that NET had medium effect on PTSD, but the evidence base of NET is still weak. In this article, we conducted a meta-analysis to explore the efficacy of NET for PTSD …
Free Full TextMental health services designed for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnics (BAME) in the UK: a scoping review of case studies.
Publication Year: 2020
Outcome(s): General Distress Reduction
Intervention(s): Culturally sensitive approaches, community-based approaches, school-based approaches
Relevant ORR Program(s): Children's Services, Refugee Health Promotion, Refugee School Impact Program, Refugee Support Services, Targeted Assistance Grant Discretionary Program, Unaccompanied Refugee Minors, Wilson/Fish, Youth Mentoring
Direction of Evidence: Positive impact
Strength of Evidence: Strong
Type of Study: Systematic review
Purpose: Mental health disparities exist among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnics (BAME) populations. This paper aims to provide an overview of mental health services designed for the BAME population in the UK, both established BAME communities and refugee/asylum-seekers. Design/methodology/approach: A range of electronic databases were searched for peer-reviewed studies conducted within the past decade in …
Free Full TextImagery rehearsal therapy and/or mianserin in treatment of refugees diagnosed with PTSD: Results from a randomized controlled trial
Publication Year: 2021
Outcome(s): PTSD Reduction
Intervention(s): Imagery Rescripting
Relevant ORR Program(s): Refugee Health Promotion, Refugee Support Services, Targeted Assistance Grant Discretionary Program, Wilson/Fish
Direction of Evidence: No impact
Strength of Evidence: Moderate
Type of Study: Impact evaluation
Sleep disturbances are frequently part of the symptomatology in refugees with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It has been suggested that targeting sleep disturbances may enhance the outcome of PTSD treatment. However, randomized studies on the effect of treatment focusing on sleep disturbances in refugees with PTSD are lacking. The aim of this study was to …
Free Full TextEfficacy of Psychological Interventions on Depression Anxiety and Somatization in Migrants: A Meta-analysis.
Publication Year: 2020
Outcome(s): Anxiety Reduction
Relevant ORR Program(s): Refugee Health Promotion, Refugee Support Services, Targeted Assistance Grant Discretionary Program, Wilson/Fish
Direction of Evidence: Inconclusive or mixed impact
Strength of Evidence: Strong
Type of Study: Meta-analysis
Many studies reveal the effectiveness of different psychological interventions on the adult refugees reporting mental health distress. Aim of this metanalysis was to test the efficacy of different psychological treatments on the depressive, anxiety and somatization symptoms on refugees and asylum seekers. Fifty-two studies, since 1997 to 2019, were included in the systematic review and …
Free Full TextEvaluating narrative exposure therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms: A meta-analysis of the evidence base.
Publication Year: 2021
Outcome(s): Depression Reduction
Intervention(s): NET
Relevant ORR Program(s): Refugee Health Promotion, Refugee Support Services, Targeted Assistance Grant Discretionary Program, Wilson/Fish
Direction of Evidence: Inconclusive or mixed impact
Strength of Evidence: Strong
Type of Study: Meta-analysis
Narrative exposure therapy (NET) is an intervention for trauma spectrum disorders. Originally developed to treat refugee populations, NET has since been tested for efficacy across different settings. In this review, the NET evidence base is examined through a retrieval, synthesis and appraisal of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published since 2002. Two independent reviewers searched online …
