How can we help refugees with posttraumatic stress disorder from MedScape
April 20, 2022
By Daniela Ovadia
The arrival of Ukrainian refugees in Italy, and especially the arrival of women and children coming from cities most affected by the attacks, has made local medical services the first point of contact for the diagnosis and care of the psychological effects of war. May studies demonstrate the high prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety among refugees. Among the most common symptoms of war-related trauma are the onset of flashbacks of troublesome memories, intrusive trauma-related thoughts, panic attacks, insomnia and night terrors, and social avoidance. “A factor that worsens the mental condition of Ukrainian refugees is the speed in which they have passed from a normal life, similar to that of many other Western countries, to a state of war, death, and injury,” writes Arash Javanbakht, associate professor of psychiatry at Wayne State University and an expert in PTSD in war refugees. “Furthermore, they are experiencing an awful feeling of injustice, as the democracy and freedom that they have fought so hard to have has been put at risk, and they don’t feel sufficiently supported by their allies.”
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