Abstract
BackgroundIn 2015, 162,877 persons sought asylum in Sweden, 35,369 of whom were unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs). Refugee children, especially URMs, have often experienced traumas and are at significant risk of developing mental health problems, such as symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety, which can continue years after resettlement. The Swedish UnaccomPanied yOuth Refugee Trial (SUPpORT) aims to evaluate a community-based intervention, called Teaching Recovery Techniques (TRT), for refugee youth experiencing PTSD symptoms.Methods/designA randomised controlled trial will be conducted in which participants will be randomly allocated to one of two possible arms: the intervention arm (n = 109) will be offered the TRT programme, and the waitlist-control arm (n = 109) will receive services as usual, followed by the TRT programme around 20 weeks later. Outcome data will be collected at three points: pre-intervention (T1), post-intervention (T2; about 8 weeks after randomisation) and follow-up (T3; about 20 weeks after randomisation).DiscussionThis study will provide knowledge about the effect and efficiency of a group intervention for URMs reporting symptoms of PTSD in Sweden.Trial registrationISRCTN, ISRCTN47820795. Prospectively registered on 20 December 2018.
Highlights
In 2015, 162,877 persons sought asylum in Sweden, 35,369 of whom were unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs)
A study of 206 URMs in Sweden reported that 76% screened positive for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms [27]
Another Swedish study of 42 children from refugee families indicated that 21% met the full criteria for PTSD, and a further 31% suffered from severe PTSD symptoms [1]
Summary
In 2015, 162,877 persons sought asylum in Sweden, 35,369 of whom were unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs). Especially URMs, have often experienced traumas and are at significant risk of developing mental health problems, such as symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety, which can continue years after resettlement. Apart from adverse events before and during migration, the asylum and resettlement process per se involves stressors, such as lack of control and insecurity while waiting for a decision of the asylum application Both pre- and post-migration factors severely increase the risk of developing mental health problems [32]. A study of 206 (mainly male Afghani) URMs in Sweden reported that 76% screened positive for PTSD symptoms [27] Another Swedish study of 42 children from refugee families indicated that 21% met the full criteria for PTSD, and a further 31% suffered from severe PTSD symptoms [1]. Considering the associations between PTSD and lower academic achievements [44] and unemployment [45], integration might be aggravated
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