Evidence
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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 TextEMDR with Traumatized Refugees: From Experience-Based to Evidence-Based Practice
Publication Year: 2014
Outcome(s): PTSD Reduction
Intervention(s): Mental health and psychosocial support services
Relevant ORR Program(s): Ethnic Community Self-Help Program, Preferred Communities, Refugee Health Promotion, Refugee Support Services, Unaccompanied Refugee Minors
Direction of Evidence: Inconclusive or mixed impact
Strength of Evidence: Strong
Type of Study: Systematic review
Many refugees resettled in Western countries suffer from an accumulation of traumatic and current stressors that contribute to mental health problems and may complicate trauma-focused treatment. Consequently, the acceptability, safety, and efficacy of trauma-focused treatment with refugees have been a matter of clinical and scientific interest. In recent years, the evidence has accumulated for narrative …
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Free Full TextComplex PTSD and Phased Treatment in Refugees: A Debate Piece
Publication Year: 2016
Outcome(s): PTSD Reduction
Intervention(s): Mental health and psychosocial support services
Relevant ORR Program(s): Ethnic Community Self-Help Program, Preferred Communities, Refugee Health Promotion, Refugee Support Services, Services to Older Refugees
Direction of Evidence: Inconclusive or mixed impact, Positive impact
Strength of Evidence: Strong
Type of Study: Systematic review
Asylum seekers and refugees have been claimed to be at increased risk of developing complex posttraumatic stress disorder (complex PTSD). The aim of this debate piece is to defend two theses: (1) that complex trauma leads to complex PTSD in a minority of refugees only and (2) that trauma-focused treatment should be offered to all …
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Free Full TextAn Integrative Adapt Therapy for Common Mental Health Symptoms and Adaptive Stress Amongst Rohingya, Chin, and Kachin Refugees Living in Malaysia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Publication Year: 2020
Outcome(s): Depression Reduction, PTSD Reduction
Intervention(s): Mental health and psychosocial support services
Relevant ORR Program(s): Ethnic Community Self-Help Program, Preferred Communities, Refugee Health Promotion, Refugee Support Services, Services to Older Refugees
Direction of Evidence: Positive impact
Strength of Evidence: Moderate
Type of Study: Impact evaluation
Background: This randomised controlled trial (RCT) aims to compare 6-week posttreatment outcomes of an Integrative Adapt Therapy (IAT) to a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) on common mental health symptoms and adaptive capacity amongst refugees from Myanmar. Authors conducted a single-blind RCT (October 2017 -May 2019) with Chin (39.3%), Kachin (15.7%), and Rohingya (45%) refugees living …
Free Full TextDigital Game-Based Education for Syrian Refugee Children: Project Hope
Publication Year: 2018
Outcome(s): General Distress Reduction
Intervention(s): Mental health and psychosocial support services
Relevant ORR Program(s): Children's Services, Refugee School Impact Program, Refugee Support Services, Unaccompanied Children's Services, Unaccompanied Refugee Minors
Direction of Evidence: Positive impact
Strength of Evidence: Moderate
Type of Study: Impact evaluation
Turkey is the top refugee-hosting country in the world, with more than three million registered Syrian refugees. An international research team was the first to document the educational and mental health needs of Syrian refugee children, finding that an overwhelming majority are not enrolled in school in Turkey, partly as a result of language barriers, …
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Paid Full TextTreatment of Sleep Disturbances in Refugees Suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Publication Year: 2017
Outcome(s): PTSD Reduction
Intervention(s): Mental health and psychosocial support services
Relevant ORR Program(s): Ethnic Community Self-Help Program, Preferred Communities, Refugee Health Promotion, Refugee Support Services, Services to Older Refugees
Direction of Evidence: Inconclusive or mixed impact
Strength of Evidence: Strong
Type of Study: Systematic review
Sleep disturbances are often referred to as the hallmark of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Although PTSD is prevalent in refugees, studies on sleep disturbances in trauma-affected refugees are scarce. This article presents the results of two studies: a systematic review of the literature on treatment of sleep disturbances in adult trauma-affected refugees and a study …
Paid Full TextChronic Pain in Refugees with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Systematic Review on Patients’ Characteristics and Specific interventions
Publication Year: 2018
Outcome(s): PTSD Reduction
Intervention(s): Mental health and psychosocial support services
Relevant ORR Program(s): Ethnic Community Self-Help Program, Preferred Communities, Refugee Health Promotion, Refugee Support Services, Services to Older Refugees
Direction of Evidence: Inconclusive or mixed impact, Positive impact
Strength of Evidence: Strong
Type of Study: Systematic review
Chronic pain in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a frequent symptom and a complicating factor in the treatment of patients. The study’s purpose is to systematically review the scientific literature on patients’ characteristics and the effects of specific interventions implemented for the treatment of chronic pain in traumatized refugees. The initial search resulted …
Free Full TextTreating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Female Victims of Trafficking Using Narrative Exposure Therapy: A Retrospective Audit
Publication Year: 2017
Outcome(s): General Distress Reduction, PTSD Reduction
Intervention(s): Mental health and psychosocial support services
Relevant ORR Program(s): Other
Direction of Evidence: Positive impact
Strength of Evidence: Suggestive
Type of Study: Suggestive evidence
Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery that involves the forced movement of people internally within countries, or externally across borders. Victims who are trafficked for sexual exploitation are subject to repeated, multiple trauma, and high rates of mental health problems including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been found. Narrative exposure therapy (NET) is …
Free Full TextThe Effectiveness of Psychosocial Interventions in War-Traumatized Refugee and Internally Displaced Minors: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Publication Year: 2017
Outcome(s): PTSD Reduction
Intervention(s): Mental health and psychosocial support services
Relevant ORR Program(s): Children's Services, Refugee Health Promotion, Refugee School Impact Program, Unaccompanied Children's Services, Unaccompanied Refugee Minors
Direction of Evidence: Inconclusive or mixed impact, Positive 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 TextTell Your Story: A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Online intervention to Reduce Mental Health Stigma and Increase Help-Seeking in Refugee Men with Posttraumatic Stress
Publication Year: 2020
Outcome(s): PTSD Reduction
Intervention(s): Mental health and psychosocial support services
Relevant ORR Program(s): Ethnic Community Self-Help Program, Preferred Communities, Refugee Health Promotion, Refugee Support Services
Direction of Evidence: Positive impact
Strength of Evidence: Moderate
Type of Study: Impact evaluation
Refugees report elevated rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but are relatively unlikely to seek help for their symptoms. Mental health stigma is a key barrier to help-seeking amongst refugees. We evaluated the efficacy of an online intervention in reducing self-stigma and increasing help-seeking in refugee men. Participants were 103 refugee men with PTSD symptoms …
Paid Full TextCultural Adaptations in Psychosocial Interventions for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Refugees: A Systematic Review
Publication Year: 2019
Outcome(s): PTSD Reduction
Intervention(s): Mental health and psychosocial support services
Relevant ORR Program(s): Ethnic Community Self-Help Program, Preferred Communities, Refugee Health Promotion, Refugee Support Services, Services to Older Refugees
Direction of Evidence: Inconclusive or mixed impact, Positive impact
Strength of Evidence: Strong
Type of Study: Systematic review
The aim of this study was to systematically review randomized controlled trials on non-pharmaceutical interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among adult refugees with a focus on identifying common cultural adaptations and reviewing possible effects of such adaptations on outcomes. The conducted systematic search yielded 11 studies. The strongest support was for eye movement desensitization …