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/ Effects of a brief intervention for symptoms of posttraumatic stress on mental health and social integration among refugees

Effects of a brief intervention for symptoms of posttraumatic stress on mental health and social integration among refugees

A research project within the research program migration and integration.

Project Leader: Anna Bjärtå

Period: 2023–2028

Site of research: Mid Sweden University

Project title: Effects of a brief intervention for symptoms of posttraumatic stress on mental health and social integration among refugees

What is the project about?

Refugees constitute a highly traumatized population with a high prevalence of psychiatric symptoms, including symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Due to limited access and accessibility to mental healthcare, many refugees remain untreated, leading to significant psychological suffering and potentially serious consequences for the integration process.

The project 'Effects of a brief intervention for symptoms of posttraumatic stress on mental health and social integration among refugees' is about improving the mental health of refugees and to investigate the relationship between mental health and social integration. Within the project, a brief and effective technique for reducing distress related to memories of difficult and traumatic life events, such as PTSD symptoms, will be adapted to the target group and evaluated. Furthermore, the project aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the concept of integration, the consequences of low integration, and how it is related to mental health.

The project's goal is thus to develop, evaluate, and disseminate an effective method tailored to a target group with a high need for trauma-focused interventions, and to highlight the consequences of mental health problems for the experience of social integration and its significance in society.

Research questions

The project has two distinct goals, of which one is to investigate the effectiveness of the method and the other to explore the relationship between mental health and social integration. Integration is a highly complex and contextual concept, and to ensure good measurability in the study, we will use both qualitative and quantitative methods to: 1.) identify indicators of social integration among the target group, 2.) understand consequences of low social integration, and 3.) examine the relationship between social integration and mental health factors. To investigate the effectiveness of the method, two intervention studies are planned, one to test the effects of the method and one to examine its application in a healthcare setting. We assess changes in symptoms of PTSD and other mental health symptoms for 18 months, as well as how changes in psychological symptoms affect social integration and quality of life.

Participants

The project is led by Anna Bjärtå at Mid Sweden University and involves researchers from the AMIR research group (Elisabet Rondung, Monique Pfaltz, Jennifer Meurling) as well as researchers in bilingualism (Marie-France Larsson, Alexandra Dylman, Mälardalen University) and quality of life and integration (Carine van der Boor, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine). The project also involves a collaboration with the SAHA research group at Linköping University (Gerhard Andersson).