Supplementary Material for: Zusammenhänge zwischen Optimismus, Pessimismus und PTBS-Symptomatik bei seit Kurzem in Deutschland lebenden Geflüchteten

Geflüchtete machen im Zusammenhang mit ihrer Flucht häufig traumatische Erfahrungen und weisen deutlich erhöhte Prävalenzraten für die posttraumatische Belastungsstörung (PTBS) und andere psychische Störungen auf. Optimismus zeigte in vielfältigen anderen Kontexten eine protektive Wirkung auf die psychische Gesundheit. Die vorliegende Studie untersucht im Rahmen eines querschnittlichen Designs, ob auch bei Geflüchteten Zusammenhänge zwischen Optimismus, Pessimismus und der Symptomatik der PTBS bestehen. Anhand einer Stichprobe von Geflüchteten (N = 554), die zum Zeitpunkt der Befragung (2017–2018) erst seit Kurzem in Deutschland waren, wurden Zusammenhänge zwischen (a) Optimismus, Pessimismus und dem Schweregrad der PTBS-Symptomatik und (b) Optimismus, Pessimismus und der Ausprägung der Symptomatik in den verschiedenen Symptomclustern der PTBS untersucht. Optimismus und Pessimismus wurden mit dem Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) erfasst, PTBS-Symptomatik mit der Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Zusätzlich wurden fluchtbezogene und soziodemographische Variablen erhoben. Optimismus war negativ mit der Gesamtsymptomatik der PTBS sowie der Symptomatik in den Clustern Intrusionen, Negative Kognition und Stimmung sowie Hyperarousal assoziiert. Umgekehrt zeigte Pessimismus positive Zusammenhänge mit diesen vier Variablen. Weder Optimismus noch Pessimismus waren signifikant mit dem Cluster Vermeidung assoziiert. Die Ergebnisse können als vorsichtiger Hinweis darauf interpretiert werden, dass Optimismus zu Resilienz bei Geflüchteten beiträgt

Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and somatisation in recently arrived refugees in Germany: an epidemiological study

Abstract Aims Despite recent worldwide migratory movements, there are only a few studies available that report robust epidemiological data on the mental health in recent refugee populations. In the present study, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and somatisation were assessed using an epidemiological approach in refugees who have recently arrived in Germany from different countries. Methods The study was conducted in a reception facility for asylum-seekers in Leipzig, Germany. A total of 1316 adult individuals arrived at the facility during the survey period (May 2017–June 2018), 569 of whom took part in the study (N = 67 pilot study and N = 502 study sample; response rate 43.2%). The questionnaire (11 different languages) included sociodemographic and flight-related questions as well as standardised instruments for assessing PTSD (PCL-5), depression (PHQ-9) and somatisation (SSS-8). Unweighted and weighted prevalence rates of PTSD, depression and somatisation were presented stratified by sex and age groups. Results According to established cut-off scores, 49.7% of the respondents screened positive for at least one of the mental disorders investigated, with 31% suffering from somatisation, 21.7% from depression and 34.9% from PTSD; prevalence rates of major depression, other depressive syndromes and PTSD were calculated according to the DSM-5, which indicated rates of 10.3, 17.6 and 28.2%, respectively. Conclusions The findings underline the dramatic mental health burden present among refugees and provide important information for health care planning. They also provide important information for health care systems and political authorities in receiving countries and strongly indicate the necessity of establishing early psychosocial support for refugees suffering from psychological distress. </jats:sec

Prescription of antibiotics in the medical care of newly arrived refugees and migrants

Purpose Unnecessary and inappropriate use of antibiotics is a widespread problem in primary care. However, current data on the care of refugees and migrants in initial reception centers is pending. This article provides data on prescription frequencies of various antibiotics and associated diagnoses. Methods In this retrospective observational study, patient data of 3255 patients with 6376 medical contacts in two initial reception centers in Germany were analyzed. Patient data, collected by chart review, included sociodemographic characteristics, diagnoses, and prescriptions. Antibiotic prescription behavior and corresponding physician‐coded diagnoses were analyzed. Results Nineteen percent of all patients in our study received systemic antibiotics during the observation period, with children below the age of 10 years receiving antibiotics most frequently (24%). The most commonly prescribed antibiotics were penicillins (65%), macrolides (12%), and cephalosporins (7%). The most frequent diagnoses associated with antibiotic prescription were acute tonsillitis (26%), bronchitis (21%), infections of the upper respiratory tract (14%), and urinary tract infections (10%). In case of acute bronchitis 74% of the antibiotic prescriptions were probably not indicated. In addition, we found a significant number of inappropriate prescriptions such as amoxicillin for tonsillitis (67%), and ciprofloxacin and cotrimoxazol for urinary tract infections (49%). Conclusion Regarding inappropriate prescription of antibiotics in refugee healthcare, this study shows a rate ranging from 8% for upper respiratory tract infections to 75% for acute bronchitis. Unnecessary use of antibiotics is a global problem contributing to gratuitous costs, side effects, and antimicrobial resistance. This research contributes to the development of stringent antibiotic stewardship regiments in the particularly vulnerable population of migrants and refugees