Unrecognized grief - Prevalence and comorbidity of prolonged grief among refugees in Sweden

Refugees often experience multiple losses. Despite this, and even though the loss is often due to unnatural causes and violent killings, the presence of Prolonged Grief (PG) among refugees may be obscured by other diagnoses such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this cross-...

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Main Authors: Anna Leiler, Jennifer Meurling, Elisabet Rondung, Shervin Shahnavaz, Gerhard Andersson, Anna Bjärtå
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-01-01
Series:Journal of Migration and Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666623524000631
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author Anna Leiler
Jennifer Meurling
Elisabet Rondung
Shervin Shahnavaz
Gerhard Andersson
Anna Bjärtå
author_facet Anna Leiler
Jennifer Meurling
Elisabet Rondung
Shervin Shahnavaz
Gerhard Andersson
Anna Bjärtå
author_sort Anna Leiler
collection DOAJ
description Refugees often experience multiple losses. Despite this, and even though the loss is often due to unnatural causes and violent killings, the presence of Prolonged Grief (PG) among refugees may be obscured by other diagnoses such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the prevalence of PG and its comorbidity with depression and PTSD among 679 adult refugees in Sweden. Results showed that 401 (59.06 %) individuals had lost someone close to them, whom they were grieving intensely. Of these, 76 individuals (18.95 % of 401) fulfilled the criteria for PG. In the full sample, 304 individuals fulfilled the criteria for depression and 56 (18.42 % of 304) of these individuals also fulfilled the criteria for PG. Similarly, 315 fulfilled the criteria for PTSD. Among these individuals, 201 reported loss and 64 (20.32 % of 315) also fulfilled the criteria for PG. The results indicate that behind symptoms of depression and PTSD, there may be a layer of grief. This needs to be considered if we are to provide accurate and effective assessments and interventions for refugees.
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spelling doaj-art-fcf1a55600aa4d63a9aa220b0ce6a7a52024-12-07T08:28:51ZengElsevierJournal of Migration and Health2666-62352024-01-0110100274Unrecognized grief - Prevalence and comorbidity of prolonged grief among refugees in SwedenAnna Leiler0Jennifer Meurling1Elisabet Rondung2Shervin Shahnavaz3Gerhard Andersson4Anna Bjärtå5Mid Sweden University 831 25 Östersund, Sweden; Corresponding author.Mid Sweden University 831 25 Östersund, SwedenMid Sweden University 831 25 Östersund, SwedenKarolinska institutet 171 77 Stockholm, SwedenLinköping University 581 83 Linköping, SwedenMid Sweden University 831 25 Östersund, SwedenRefugees often experience multiple losses. Despite this, and even though the loss is often due to unnatural causes and violent killings, the presence of Prolonged Grief (PG) among refugees may be obscured by other diagnoses such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the prevalence of PG and its comorbidity with depression and PTSD among 679 adult refugees in Sweden. Results showed that 401 (59.06 %) individuals had lost someone close to them, whom they were grieving intensely. Of these, 76 individuals (18.95 % of 401) fulfilled the criteria for PG. In the full sample, 304 individuals fulfilled the criteria for depression and 56 (18.42 % of 304) of these individuals also fulfilled the criteria for PG. Similarly, 315 fulfilled the criteria for PTSD. Among these individuals, 201 reported loss and 64 (20.32 % of 315) also fulfilled the criteria for PG. The results indicate that behind symptoms of depression and PTSD, there may be a layer of grief. This needs to be considered if we are to provide accurate and effective assessments and interventions for refugees.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666623524000631RefugeesMental healthProlonged griefDepressionPost-traumatic stress disorder
spellingShingle Anna Leiler
Jennifer Meurling
Elisabet Rondung
Shervin Shahnavaz
Gerhard Andersson
Anna Bjärtå
Unrecognized grief - Prevalence and comorbidity of prolonged grief among refugees in Sweden
Journal of Migration and Health
Refugees
Mental health
Prolonged grief
Depression
Post-traumatic stress disorder
title Unrecognized grief - Prevalence and comorbidity of prolonged grief among refugees in Sweden
title_full Unrecognized grief - Prevalence and comorbidity of prolonged grief among refugees in Sweden
title_fullStr Unrecognized grief - Prevalence and comorbidity of prolonged grief among refugees in Sweden
title_full_unstemmed Unrecognized grief - Prevalence and comorbidity of prolonged grief among refugees in Sweden
title_short Unrecognized grief - Prevalence and comorbidity of prolonged grief among refugees in Sweden
title_sort unrecognized grief prevalence and comorbidity of prolonged grief among refugees in sweden
topic Refugees
Mental health
Prolonged grief
Depression
Post-traumatic stress disorder
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666623524000631
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