Delivering therapy over telephone in a humanitarian setting: a pilot randomized controlled trial of common elements treatment approach (CETA) with Syrian refugee children in Lebanon
Background: In recent years, the number of forcibly displaced persons has risen worldwide, with approximately 40% being children and adolescents. Most of them are hosted in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Many individuals meet the criteria for mental health issues, which can also be exacerbated by a number of risk factors, including low socioeconomic status,…
Read MoreWar Exposure and DNA Methylation in Syrian Refugee Children and Adolescents
Importance: Adverse and traumatic experiences can lead to long-lasting DNA methylation changes, potentially mediating the link between adversity and mental health. To date, limited studies have investigated the impact of war on DNA methylation in children or adolescents, hampering our understanding of the biological impact of war exposure. Objective: To identify salivary DNA methylation differences…
Read MoreFather-separation and well-being in forcibly displaced Syrian children
Forcibly displaced children often face separation from their parents, particularly fathers. These children endure the hardships of war, displacement, and the loss of a key attachment figure. Despite the critical role of attachment in children’s well-being during periods of heightened stress, the impact of separation due to war and displacement has received little attention in…
Read MoreThe role of environmental sensitivity in the mental health of Syrian refugee children: a multi-level analysis
Individuals with high environmental sensitivity have nervous systems that are disproportionately receptive to both the protective and imperilling aspects of the environment, suggesting their mental health is strongly context-dependent. However, there have been few consolidated attempts to examine putative markers of sensitivity, across different levels of analysis, within a single cohort of individuals with high-priority…
Read MoreHair hormone data from Syrian refugee children: Perspectives from a two-year longitudinal study
For numerous issues of convenience and acceptability, hair hormone data have been increasingly incorporated in the field of war trauma and forced displacement, allowing retrospective examination of several biological metrics thought to covary with refugees’ mental health. As a relatively new research method, however, there remain several complexities and uncertainties surrounding the use of hair…
Read MoreFeasibility and acceptability of phone‑delivered psychological therapy for refugee children and adolescents in a humanitarian setting
Refugee children are at high risk of mental health problems but face barriers to accessing mental health services, a problem exacerbated by a shortage of mental health professionals. Having trained lay counsellors deliver therapy via telephone could overcome these barriers.
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