Nesterko Yuriy, Schönenberg Kim, Weißig Anna, Kulbakina Tatiana, Glaesmer Heide
Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
Department for Clinical Psychological Intervention, Free University Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci. 2025 Apr 11;34:e24. doi: 10.1017/S2045796025000216.
Only little empirical evidence exists on mental health in LGBTIQ+ refugees. In the present study, trauma exposure, experiences of sexual violence and current treatment needs for physical and mental health were investigated in association with symptoms of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and somatic symptom burden in LGBTIQ+ asylum-seekers resettled in Germany and seeking psychosocial support.
Data was collected in cooperation with a counselling centre for LGBTIQ+ asylum-seekers between Mai 2018 and March 2024, with a total of 120 completed questionnaires of adult clients. The questionnaire (11 different languages) included sociodemographic and flight-related questions as well as standardized instruments for assessing PTSD (PCL-5), depression (PHQ-9), somatic symptom burden (SSS-8), and anxiety (HSCL-25). Prevalence rates were calculated according to the cut-off scores of each questionnaire. Four logistic regression analyses were conducted to test for potential associations between being screened positive for anxiety, depression, somatic symptom burden or PTSD and the number of traumatic events, experiences of sexual violence as well as current treatment needs for physical and mental health.
The great majority, 74.2% (95% CI: 66-82) of the respondents, screened positive for at least one of the mental disorders investigated, with 45% (95% CI: 36-54) suffering from somatic symptom burden, 44.2% (95% CI: 35-53) from depression, 58.3% (95% CI: 50-67) from PTSD, and 62.5% (95% CI: 54-71) from anxiety; 69.5% participants reported having been exposed to sexual violence. Current treatment needs for physical health problems were reported by 47% and for mental health problems by 56.7%. Participants with experiences of sexual violence were more likely to be screened positive for depression (OR: 6.787, 95% CI: 1.45-31.65) and PTSD (OR: 6.121, 95% CI: 1.34-27.95).
The study provides initial insights on mental health and associated factors in a highly burdened and hard-to-reach population. The findings are important for healthcare systems and political authorities in terms of assuring better protection and healthcare for LGBTIQ+ refugees and asylum-seekers.
关于 LGBTQ+ 难民心理健康的实证证据很少。在本研究中，对在德国重新安置并寻求心理社会支持的 LGBTQ+ 寻求庇护者的创伤暴露、性暴力经历以及当前身心健康治疗需求与焦虑、抑郁、创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）症状和躯体症状负担进行了调查。
2018 年 5 月至 2024 年 3 月期间，与一个为 LGBTQ+ 寻求庇护者提供咨询的中心合作收集数据，共收集到 120 份成年客户填写完整的问卷。问卷（11 种不同语言）包括社会人口学和与逃亡相关的问题，以及用于评估 PTSD（PCL - 5）、抑郁（PHQ - 9）、躯体症状负担（SSS - 8）和焦虑（HSCL - 25）的标准化工具。根据每份问卷的临界值计算患病率。进行了四项逻辑回归分析，以测试焦虑、抑郁、躯体症状负担或 PTSD 筛查呈阳性与创伤事件数量、性暴力经历以及当前身心健康治疗需求之间的潜在关联。
绝大多数（74.2%，95%CI：66 - 82）受访者至少有一种所调查的精神障碍筛查呈阳性，其中 45%（95%CI：36 - 54）患有躯体症状负担，44.2%（95%CI：35 - 53）患有抑郁症，58.3%（95%CI：50 - 67）患有 PTSD，62.5%（95%CI：54 - 71）患有焦虑症；69.5%的参与者报告曾遭受性暴力。47%的人报告当前存在身体健康问题的治疗需求，56.7%的人报告存在心理健康问题的治疗需求。有性暴力经历的参与者更有可能抑郁症（OR：6.787，95%CI：1.45 - 31.65）和 PTSD（OR：6.121，95%CI：1.34 - 27.95）筛查呈阳性。
该研究为一个负担沉重且难以接触到的人群的心理健康及相关因素提供了初步见解。这些发现对于医疗保健系统和政治当局确保为 LGBTQ+ 难民和寻求庇护者提供更好的保护和医疗保健具有重要意义。
