Separation and not residency permit restores function in resignation syndrome: a retrospective cohort study.

Despite poor treatment results, a family-oriented approach and the securing of residency have been deemed essential to recovery from resignation syndrome (RS). In a retrospective cohort study, we evaluated an alternative method involving environmental therapy, with patients separated from their parents, while actively abstaining from involving the asylum process in treatment. We examined medical records, social services acts, and residential care home acts from 13 individuals treated at Solsidan residential care home between 2005 and 2020. Severity and outcome were assessed with Clinical Global Impression, Severity and Improvement subscales. Thirteen participants were included and out of these nine (69%) recovered, i.e. they very much or much improved. Out of the eight that were separated, all recovered, also, one non-separated recovered. The difference in outcome between subjects separated and not was significant (p = 0.007). Moreover, out of the five which received a residency permit during treatment, one recovered whereas four did not. The difference in outcome between subjects granted residency and not was significant (p = 0.007). The data revealed three (23%) cases of simulation where parents were suspected to have instigated symptoms. Our evaluation suggests that separation from parents and abstaining from invoking residency permit could be essential components when treating RS. Relying on a family-oriented approach, and residency could even be detrimental to recovery. The examined intervention was successful also in cases of probable malingering by proxy.

[The asylum seeking process a breeding ground for apathy among certain children. A negative answer concerning the residence permit is often a triggering factor]. / Asylprocess grogrund för apati hos vissa barn. Negativt besked om uppehållstillstånd ofta utlösande faktor.

In this study, 124 of 1,299 children from asylum seeking families living in northern Sweden required psychiatric help. Compared to Swedish children a larger proportion seeks psychiatric help. In the last few years more children seeking asylum have had severe generalised losses of functions and need help with activity of daily life. Almost every child's health condition improves when they get permission to stay in Sweden. Children from the former Soviet Union seek help more frequently than children from other countries do.