Abstract
Literature shows an increased risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among illegal migrants. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of PTSD, subthreshold PTSD, the degree of disability, and differences in socio‐demographic and anamnestic characteristics associated with these clinical conditions in a sample of newly arrived migrants.
Two hundred male asylum seekers from West sub‐Saharan Africa were evaluated for traumatic life events, PTSD symptoms and disability through Life Events Checklist for DSM‐5 (LEC‐5), Primary Care PTSD Screen (PC‐PTSD), PTSD Checklist for DSM‐5 (PCL‐5) and World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0).
The current prevalence of PTSD and subthreshold PTSD was 9.5% and 12.0%, respectively. PTSD and subthreshold PTSD subgroups presented higher WHODAS 2.0 scores and LEC‐5 events, an over‐representation of individuals with childhood adversities and an excess of pre‐migration psychiatric contacts unrelated to PTSD spectrum disorders and peri‐migration offences. Witnessing a traumatic event and disability in understanding and communication predicted both the presence of PTSD symptoms and PTSD status.
PTSD spectrum disorders should be considered among the clinical emergencies associated with asylum seeker condition and targeted interventions also involving the host citizens should be predisposed.