Trauma and Migration

This book provides an overview of recent trends in the management of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorders that may ensue from distressing experiences associated with the process of migration. Although the symptoms induced by trauma are common to all cultures, their specific meaning and the strategies used to deal with them may be culture-specific. Consequently, cultural factors can play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with psychological reactions to extreme stress. This role is examined in detail, with an emphasis on the need for therapists to bear in mind that different cultures often have different concepts of health and disease and that cross-cultural communication is therefore essential in ensuring effective care of the immigrant patient. The therapist’s own intercultural skills are highlighted as being an important factor in the success of any treatment and specific care contexts and the global perspective are also discussed.

• Asylum seekers
• Cultural Factors
• Immigrant Patient
• Intercultural skills
• Post-traumatic stress disorders
• Trauma
• Traumatized Immigrants

“This book gives an excellent overview over the epidemiology and relevance of the topic ... . European societies dedicated to humanitarian ideals have to respond to the question how to adequately deal with the weakest members of society. Traumatised refugees and other migrants are among these subjects, which deserve special attention and care. May this book help to provide them with the best available support!” (Andreas Heinz, museo-on.com, October, 2015)

• Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the Charité, St. Hedwig Hospital, Berlin, Germany

  Meryam Schouler-Ocak

Policies and ethics