Cultural differences in appraisals of control and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms.

Background: Appraisals are central to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Yet, few studies have examined how culture influences the associations between different types of trauma-related appraisals and PTSD symptoms.Objective: This study investigated cultural influences on appraisals of control and their associations with PTSD symptoms.Method: European Australian (n = 140, Mage = 35.80, SD = 12.44; 21 men, 97 women, 20 gender diverse/prefer not to report) and Chinese Australian (n = 129, Mage = 30.16, SD = 8.93, 21 men, 97 women, 20 gender diverse/prefer not to report) trauma survivors completed measures of appraisals, cultural values, and PTSD symptoms.Results: Findings showed that the Chinese Australian group was associated with greater Chinese cultural beliefs about adversity (i.e. emphasizing the value of adversity and people's ability to overcome adversity) and fewer fatalism appraisals (i.e. appraising one's destiny as externally determined), which in turn were atemporally associated with fewer PTSD symptoms; these atemporal indirect associations were moderated by self-construal and holistic thinking. The Chinese Australian group also reported fewer secondary control appraisals (i.e. attempts to change aspects of the self and accept current circumstances), which were atemporally associated with greater PTSD symptoms. In contrast, the European Australian group was associated with fewer primary control appraisals (i.e. perceived ability to personally change or control a situation), which were atemporally associated with greater PTSD symptoms.Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of considering the influence of culture on appraisals in PTSD. However, it must be noted that causal relationships cannot be inferred from cross-sectional mediation analyses and thus, future longitudinal research is needed.

Chinese Australian trauma survivors were associated with greater reporting of Chinese cultural beliefs about adversity and fewer fatalism appraisals, which were associated with fewer PTSD symptoms. These associations were moderated by a trauma survivor's self-construal and level of holistic thinking.Chinese Australian trauma survivors reported fewer secondary control appraisals, which were associated with greater PTSD symptoms.European Australian trauma survivors were associated with fewer primary control appraisals, which were associated with greater PTSD symptoms.

Postmigration stress and sleep disturbances mediate the relationship between trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress symptoms among Syrian and Iraqi refugees.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Sleep disturbance is common in those who experience trauma. In a sample of nontreatment-seeking refugees, we examined the associations between trauma exposure, postmigration stress, sleep symptoms, and posttraumatic psychological symptoms. METHODS: Syrian and Iraqi refugees (n = 86; 51% female; mean age = 45 years) residing in Australia were recruited from the local community. Cross-sectional descriptive design, multinominal regression analyses, and mediation analyses were used. Participants completed measures in Arabic assessing premigration trauma exposure, postmigration stress, sleep symptoms, and mental health. They also completed 7 days of sleep diaries and actigraphy. RESULTS: We identified 34.9% of the participants as normal sleepers, 32.6% as probably having insomnia, and 32.6% as likely having insomnia. Variables associated with greater sleep disturbance (McFadden's R² = 0.57) included greater trauma exposure, increased time of resettlement, greater postmigration stress, and greater presleep arousal. The association of premigration trauma exposure to current posttraumatic symptoms was mediated sequentially by postmigration stress and sleep symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the extent of sleep disturbance in refugees. We found evidence for an indirect pathway between trauma exposure and posttraumatic symptoms through premigration stress and sleep (particularly presleep arousal). In the current global refugee crisis, improving the existing system of care in countries experiencing increased migration is critical. Because sleep disturbance is a modifiable condition associated with mental health, targeting sleep could be an important component of psychological interventions for refugees.

Longitudinal investigation of the relationships between trauma exposure, post-migration stress, sleep disturbance, and mental health in Syrian refugees.

Background High prevalence of sleep disturbance, which is associated with poor mental health, has been observed among non-treatment seeking refugees. However, no longitudinal research has investigated the chronicity of untreated sleep disturbance and its impact on refugees' mental health. OBJECTIVE: This longitudinal study investigated associations between mental health (posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression), sleep symptoms (insomnia severity, pre-sleep arousal), and factors predicting mental health, over a 12-month period. METHOD: Syrian refugees (N = 69) from a cross-sectional study (Time 1) participated in the current 12-month (Time 2) follow-up study. Participants completed a series of questionnaires examining sleep, trauma exposure, post-migration living difficulties, and mental health at both time points. RESULTS: When compared to Time 1, participants showed a significant increase in post-migration stress at Time 2. However, there was an improvement in their mental health and levels of sleep disturbance. Half of the participants met criteria for moderate (36%) or severe sleep disturbance (15%) at Time 2. Forty-two per cent of the participants had moderate to severe sleep disturbance at both Time 1 and Time 2. When predicting mental health at 12-month follow-up, only pre-sleep arousal at Time 1 uniquely predicted mental health at Time 2. Mediation analysis indicated that change in pre-sleep arousal (from Time 1 to Time 2) significantly mediated the relationship between change in post-migration stress and change in mental health symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that sleep symptoms have an indirect and long-term impact on mental health among refugees. Understanding modifiable factors, such as sleep, mediating the relationship between trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms is important, as such factors can be targeted in psychological interventions for refugees.

Antecedentes: Se ha observado en refugiados que no están en búsqueda de tratamiento una alta prevalencia de alteraciones del sueño, que se asocia con una salud mental pobre. Sin embargo, no existen estudios longitudinales que hayan investigado la cronicidad de las alteraciones del sueño no tratadas y su impacto en la salud mental de los refugiados.Objetivo: Este estudio longitudinal investigó las asociaciones entre salud mental (trastorno de estrés postraumático, ansiedad, depresión), síntomas del sueño (severidad del insomnio, activación previa al sueño), y factores predictores de salud mental, a lo largo de un periodo de 12 meses.Método: Refugiados sirios (N=69) de un estudio transversal (Momento 1) participó en el siguiente seguimiento a los 12 meses (Momento 2). Los participantes completaron una serie de cuestionarios examinando el sueño, la exposición al trauma, las dificultades vitales luego de la migración y la salud mental en ambos momentos de medición.Resultados: En comparación al Momento 1, los participantes mostraron un aumento 2significativo del estrés posterior a la migración en el Momento 2. Sin embargo, hubo una mejora en su salud mental y los niveles de alteración del sueño. La mitad de los participantes cumplieron los criterios para alteraciones del sueño moderadas (36%) o severas (15%) al Momento 2. Cuarenta y dos por ciento de los participantes tuvieron alteraciones del sueño moderadas a severas en ambos Momentos 1 y 2. Al predecir la salud mental en el seguimiento a 12 meses, sólo la activación previa al sueño en el Momento 1 predijo únicamente la salud mental al Momento 2. Los análisis de mediación indicaron que el cambio en la activación previa al sueño (desde el Momento 1 al Momento 2) medió significativamente la relación entre cambio en el estrés posterior a la migración y cambio en los síntomas de salud mental.Conclusiones: Este estudio demostró que los síntomas del sueño tienen un impacto indirecto y en el largo plazo en la salud mental de los refugiados. Es importante el entendimiento de los factores modificables, tales como el sueño, que mediaron la relación entre la exposición al trauma y los síntomas, dado que tales factores pueden ser abordados en las intervenciones psicológicas para refugiados.

The impact of prolonged exposure on sleep and enhancing treatment outcomes with evidence-based sleep interventions: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Insomnia and nightmares are central features of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, often they are inadequately assessed and ineffectively resolved following gold-standard PTSD treatment. Here we: (a) evaluate effects of prolonged exposure (PE) on subjectively measured sleep and (b) present pilot results of an examination of whether adding sleep interventions (imagery rehearsal therapy [IRT] and cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia [CBT-I]) to PE improves treatment response, relative to PE alone, for night- and/or daytime PTSD symptoms among returning U.S. veterans and postdeployment personnel. METHOD: In a parallel-groups, randomized controlled trial, participants received 12 sessions of PE followed by IRT (5 weeks) and CBT-I (7 weeks) or PE followed by 12 weeks supportive care therapy (SCT). RESULTS: PE did not improve sleep to a clinically meaningful degree, despite significant improvements in both Clinical Administered PTSD Scale and PTSD Checklist. Enhancing treatment with IRT/CBT-I led to greater improvements in insomnia (diary-recorded sleep efficiency) symptoms with large effect size, relative to SCT (p = .068, d = 1.07). There were large improvements in nightmare frequency relative SCT that did not reach statistical significance (p = .11, d = 0.90). Moreover, there was small improvement in daytime symptoms (Clinical Administered PTSD Scale) that did not reach statistical significance (p = .54, d = .31). CONCLUSION: The addition of targeted, validated sleep treatment improves effects of PE and improves nighttime symptoms. Thus, evidence-based sleep treatment should be considered in comprehensive PTSD treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Prevalence of sleep disturbance and its relationships with mental health and psychosocial issues in refugees and asylum seekers attending psychological services in Australia.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, 68.5 million individuals are refugees, asylum seekers, or internally displaced. Although many studies have examined mental health concerns in this population, few studies have assessed sleep or examined the relationship between sleep and mental health or psychosocial functioning. OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to (1) examine the prevalence of sleep disturbance within refugees and asylum seekers from diverse backgrounds, (2) examine mental health and psychosocial factors associated with sleep disturbance, and (3) explore whether symptoms cluster together in unique subsets of individuals. METHODS: Clinician-administered interview data (N = 2703) were obtained from a large mental health service in greater Melbourne, Australia. Data included patient demographics, sleep disturbance, mental health (anxiety, depression, traumatic stress symptoms), and psychosocial concerns (family dysfunctions, interpersonal difficulties, social isolation). RESULTS: A total of 75.5% of the sample reported moderate or severe sleep disturbance. Severity of sleep disturbance was positively correlated with severity of mental health symptoms, psychosocial concerns, age, and migration status. This was true in both refugee and asylum seeker populations and in both adults and children. Cluster analyses revealed 3 subsets of individuals: those with "severe sleep and anxiety symptoms," "mild to moderate symptoms," and "mild symptoms." Using "mild symptoms" as the comparator, being a refugee and increasing age were associated with a 1.57- and 1.02-fold increase, respectively, in the likelihood of classification as "severe sleep and anxiety problems" and 1.70- and 1.02-fold increase, respectively, in the likelihood of classification as "mild to moderate symptoms." CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that systematic screening of sleep disturbance among refugees and asylum seekers during health-related visits is needed.

Predictors and Moderators of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: An Investigation of Anxiety Sensitivity and Resilience in Individuals with Chronic Pain.

INTRODUCTION: Anxiety sensitivity has been proposed as a psychological vulnerability factor for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Studies have also supported the protective role of resilience for overcoming the negative effects of trauma exposure. Given the linkages between anxiety sensitivity, resilience, trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress, this study explored the potential moderating roles of anxiety sensitivity and resilience on the association between trauma history and PTSD symptoms in a sample of individuals with chronic pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 patients with chronic pain were recruited from a large public hospital. Patients who had pain lasting for more than 3 months and a pain intensity rating of at least 4/10 were included. The study participants were administered measures of PTSD symptoms (PTSD Checklist - Civilian Version), resilience (Brief Resilient Coping Scale) and anxiety sensitivity (Anxiety Sensitivity Index). RESULTS: An analysis of outcome measures indicated that anxiety sensitivity and resilience were independently associated with PTSD symptoms, where ßs were 0.57 and -0.23, respectively. The relationship between trauma and PTSD symptom severity was also moderated by anxiety sensitivity. Trauma history was associated with higher PTSD symptom severity only in those with high anxiety sensitivity. However, contrary to the hypotheses, resilience did not serve as a moderator. CONCLUSION: There are potential benefits of PTSD interventions that increase resilience and decrease anxiety sensitivity in individuals with chronic pain, especially for those who have experienced a traumatic event. Given that the presence of PTSD symptomatology in chronic pain populations negatively impact patient well-being, it would be important for clinicians to assess, monitor and treat PTSD in individuals with chronic pain.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Developments in Assessment and Treatment.

Diagnostic discordance between posttraumatic stress disorder definitions, treatment dropout rates, comorbidities, and varying policy approaches leave VA and DoD clinicians with unique concerns in providing effective treatment for many postwar health problems.