​​Research aim:

• To describe the prevalence of pain among refugees with PTSD referred to CTP

• To compare severity of PTSD symptoms and treatment outcomes among those with and without pain

• To review the literature on treatments and interventions for comorbid PTSD and pain in the general population and specifically among refugees

• To pilot nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic treatments that target both PTSD and pain

Methods:

• Analysis of relevant data in the Danish Database on Refugees with Trauma (DART) collected since 2009

• Literature reviews on specific interventions that target both PTSD and pain. These include nonpharmacologic interventions (e.g., psychotherapy) and medications (e.g., SSRIs / SNRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, gabapentinoids)

• Development of a treatment manual targeting both PTSD and pain
  

Primary investigator: Maria Westergaard, MD, PhD

Supervisors: Jessica Carlsson, MD, PhD

Publications:

Westergaard, M. L., Jensen, R. H., & Carlsson, J. (2023). Headache comorbidity in refugees and migrants with post-traumatic stress disorder. Cephalalgia, 43(3).