Abstract
There is a dearth of
evidence on the effectiveness of pharmacological treatment for refugees
with trauma-related disorders. The present paper provides an overview of
available literature on the subject and discusses the transferability
of results from studies on other groups of patients with post traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD). We conducted a systematic review of published
treatment outcome studies on PTSD and depression among refugees. Fifteen
studies were identified and reviewed. Most studies focused on the use
of antidepressants. Included studies differed widely in method and
quality. The majority were observational studies and case studies. Small
sample sizes limited the statistical power. Few studies reported effect
sizes, confidence intervals, and statistical significance of findings.
No specific pharmacological treatment for PTSD among refugees can be
recommended on the basis of the available literature. There is a need
for well-designed clinical trials, especially with newer antidepressants
and antipsychotics. Until such studies are available, clinical practice
and design of trials can be guided by results from studies of other
groups of PTSD patients, although differences in pharmacogenetics,
compliance, and trauma reactions may affect the direct transferability
of results from studies on nonrefugee populations.
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