93 research outputs found
Implementing scalable face-to-face and digital interventions among forcibly displaced persons from Ukraine in Europe: protocol of The U-RISE Project.
Full text linkpeer reviewedBackground: The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 has led to millions of forcibly displaced persons (FDPs) within Ukraine and other European countries. Due to war-related exposure and displacement adversities, this group is at significant risk of developing depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental health problems. Systemic barriers, including insufficiently equipped mental health systems and language barriers, prevent FDPs from receiving adequate mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). Scalable interventions delivered in person by non-specialist helpers, or digitally, provide opportunities to scale up the MHPSS response.Objectives: This paper aims to provide an overview of the 'Ukraine's displaced people in the EU: Reach out, Implement, Scale-up and Evaluate interventions promoting mental wellbeing' (U-RISE) project. U-RISE aims to improve the mental wellbeing of FDPs from Ukraine by establishing a network of Ukrainian mental health professionals, building sustainable capacity for provision and supporting implementation of scalable face-to-face and digital mental health interventions adapted to the specific needs of this population.Method: We build capacity for and implement scalable face-to-face interventions, including Problem Management Plus, Self Help Plus, and Multi-family Approach, for FDPs from Ukraine in Poland, Slovakia and Romania. Digital interventions, including the Doing What Matters in Times of Stress digital guide and a Telegram-based chatbot 'Friend' using principles of Psychological First Aid, are being implemented in Europe and Ukraine. To monitor the population's mental wellbeing and impact of the interventions, qualitative needs assessments among mental health providers and FDPs, and quantitative assessments pre- and post-intervention are collected.Conclusion: We provide a framework for the rapid implementation of face-to-face and digital interventions in countries that need to scale up their MHPSS in response to humanitarian or complex emergency crises.Scalable interventions delivered in person by non-specialists, or digitally, have the potential to scale up the mental health and psychosocial support in response to the mass displacement caused by the war in Ukraine.U-RISE aims to improve the mental wellbeing of forcibly displaced persons from Ukraine in Europe by building sustainable capacity and implementing multiple task-shifting programmes. These programmes include Self-Help Plus, Problem Management Plus and Multifamily Approach, as well as digital formats, including Doing What Matters in Times of Stress digital guide and a chatbot based on principles of Psychological First Aid.U-RISE provides a framework for the rapid implementation of scalable in-person and digital interventions underpinned by qualitative and quantitative research assessing the needs of various stakeholder groups and psychological outcomes pre- and post-intervention
Mental health needs and implementation barriers for psychosocial support among forcibly displaced Ukrainians in Poland, Romania, and Slovakia: a qualitative analysis
Full text linkBackground Since the beginning of Russia's offensive war against Ukraine, over 6.3 million forcibly displaced persons (FDPs) have settled in the European Union. This study aimed to identify key mental health and psychosocial challenges among Ukrainian forcibly displaced persons (FDPs), including symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD, as well as barriers to implementing mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.Method Using a two-step qualitative design, we conducted free-listing (n = 18; convenience sample recruited from partner organisations) and key informant interviews (n = 12; snowball sample) with FDPs from Ukraine. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and pseudonymised. Data was analysed using an inductive approach, allowing themes to emerge from the data itself, and was then organised deductively using the System Innovation Approach framework. Data was coded independently by two authors and synthesised using consensus discussions.Results Findings revealed that Ukrainian FDPs face key challenges, including uncertainty about the future, a sense of disconnection from their communities, and the profound emotional impact of losing established roles, identity, and sense of purpose tied to their former social and professional lives. Important factors to consider when implementing MHPSS include stigma and culturally appropriate ways of communicating distress, such as somatisation. Participants also emphasised the importance of framing mental health services as health promotion to encourage uptake and acceptance.Conclusions These findings highlight urgent, multidimensional needs for Ukrainian FDPs and contribute to developing sustainable mental health support strategies for displaced populations affected by armed conflict or forced displacement
Migrant and ethnic minority status as risk indicators for schizophrenia: new findings
Full text linkPurpose of reviewArguably, the strongest evidence of an environmental contribution to the cause of psychosis is the increased risk for certain groups of migrants and ethnic minorities. This article summarizes findings published since 2016.Recent findingsTwo studies suggested that migration or minority status are proxies for exposure to an inferior social status. A study from Bologna, Italy, showed that the psychosis risk for internal migrants from Southern Italy was as much increased as that for international migrants. A report from New Zealand reported a higher risk for Maoris than for the remainder of the population.Furthermore, a Danish investigation showed that own-group ethnic density of the neighbourhood at age 15 strongly modified the psychosis risk at adult age. This rules out differential mobility during the prodromal phase as an explanation for the ethnic density effect. Preliminary evidence suggests that the psychotogenic effect of migration may be mediated by elevated dopamine in the striatum.SummaryAn increasing body of evidence suggests that the higher psychosis risk for certain migrant or ethnic minority groups is due to an inferior social status. Neuroimaging of the dopamine system appears to be a promising avenue for research into pathogenesis
Incidentie van psychose onder migranten in Nederland: Resultaten van de EU-GEI-studie
No full textDoel Het vergelijken van de incidentie van een psychose onder migranten met de incidentie onder mensen met een Nederlandse achtergrond in Amsterdam en de regio Gouda en Voorhout. Opzet We hebben getracht om voor de Europese studie ‘European Network of National Schizophrenia Networks Studying Gene-Environment Interactions’ (EU-GEI) alle patiënten te includeren met een eerste psychose waar behandeling voor werd gezocht in bovengenoemde regio’s in de periode 2010-2013. Met informatie over de bevolkingsopbouw werden incidentiecijfers berekend. Methode ‘Incidence rate’ ratio (IRR)’s van een psychose in verschillende herkomstgroepen in vergelijking met niet-migranten zijn geanalyseerd in een Poisson-model. Resultaten De gestandaardiseerde incidentie in Amsterdam bedroeg 55,3 per 100.000 persoonsjaren onder migranten en 24,9 per 100.000 persoonsjaren onder personen met een Nederlandse achtergrond. In Gouda en Voorhout waren deze cijfers respectievelijk 29,5 en 20,0 per 100.000 persoonsjaren. In Amsterdam werden opvallend verhoogde incidenties gevonden onder Marokkaanse mannen van de eerste (IRR: 4,07; 95%-BI: 1,76-9,42) en de tweede generatie (IRR: 6,48; 95%-BI: 3,30-12,68). In Gouda en Voorhout werden verhoogde incidenties gevonden onder zowel Marokkaanse mannen van de eerste generatie (IRR: 3,37; 95%-BI:1,17-9,74) als Marokkaanse vrouwen van de tweede generatie (IRR:7,10; 95%-BI: 2,79-18,06). Verder werden in Amsterdam verhoogde incidenties gevonden voor mannen uit Oost-Europa (IRR:4,52; 95%-BI: 2,24-9,11), migranten uit Sub-Saharaans Afrika (IRR:3,15; 95%-BI: 1,68-5,91) en eerstegeneratie-migranten, zowel mannen als vrouwen, uit Suriname en Nederlandse Antillen. Onder westerse migranten werden verlaagde incidentiecijfers gevonden. Conclusie Onder niet-westerse migranten – en in Amsterdam ook onder Oost-Europese migranten – werd een verhoogd risico op een psychose gevonden. De variatie naar regio van herkomst en bestemming, generatie en geslacht suggereert dat dit risico afhankelijk zou kunnen zijn van de sociale context. Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence of psychosis among migrants with the incidence among the native Dutch in Amsterdam, Gouda and Voorhout. DESIGN: We identified patients with a first treated episode of psychosis (ICD-10 codes F20-F33) in 2010-2013 as part of the European Network of National Schizophrenia Networks Studying Gene-Environment Interactions (EU-GEI) study. Information on the composition of the population made it possible to calculate incidence rates. METHOD: We analyzed the Incidence Rate Ratios (IRR) of psychosis among various ethnic groups compared to the native Dutch using a Poisson model. RESULTS: The standardized rates in Amsterdam were 55.3/ 100,000 person-years (py) for migrants and 24.9/ 100,000py for native Dutch. In Gouda and Voorhout, these rates were 28.5 en 20.0/ 100,000py. We found increased rates among Moroccan males of the first (IRR=4.07 [95%-CI: 1.76-9.42]) and second generation (IRR=6.48 [3.30-12.68]) in Amsterdam. In Gouda and Voorhout, we found increased rates both among Moroccan males (IRR=3.37 [1.17-9.74]) of the first generation and Moroccan females of the second generation (IRR=7.10 [2.79-18.06]). High rates were also found in Amsterdam for male migrants from Eastern Europe (IRR=4.52 [2.24-9.11]), migrants from sub-Saharan Africa (IRR=3.15 [1.68-5.91]) and first-generation migrants, both males and females, from Surinam and the Netherlands Antilles. We found a decreased incidence for Western migrants. CONCLUSION: We found an increased incidence of psychosis among non-Western migrants and in Amsterdam also among Eastern-European migrants. The variation by region of origin and destination generation, and gender suggests that this risk is strongly influenced by the societal context
Understanding Racial-Ethnic Disparities in Psychosis Outcomes via Population-Based Approaches
Full text linkThe effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions for negative psychotic symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textNegative symptoms, such as emotional flatness, social withdrawal, and lack of motivation, will be considered in this study as often overlooked in psychosis treatment, despite their significant impact on long-term recovery and rehabilitation. While positive symptoms (e.g., hallucinations and delusions) are typically prioritized in clinical diagnosis and treatment, negative symptoms will frequently persist, creating substantial barriers to social reintegration and functional recovery.
Aim: The goal of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the effects of psychological interventions on negative symptoms of psychosis, drawing on evidence from randomized controlled trials comparing psychotherapy treatments to control groups.
Methods: Searches are conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, and PsycINFO (up to March 1, 2025). Data extraction and Risk of Bias assessments will be performed by two independent raters, using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. The main outcome assessed will be the reduction of negative psychotic symptoms at post-test, measured using Hedges’ g, based on the effect size and a random effects model. Subgroup analysis will be conducted based on therapy format and therapy type. Additionally, the analysis will explore the moderating effects of study characteristics (sample size, treatment duration), participant characteristics (age, gender, illness duration) and risk of bias. Sensitivity analyses will be performed to test the robustness of findings by identifying and excluding outliers
Trajectories of psychotic-like experiences in youth and associations with lifestyle factors
Full text linkBACKGROUND: Persistent and/or distressing psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) during adolescence are associated with poorer subsequent psychiatric outcomes. Modifiable lifestyle factors (such as sleep quality or regular exercise) may improve mental health outcomes; however, it is unknown how lifestyle factors are linked to trajectories of PLEs.METHODS: Using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (N = 10,075, age 9-10 years at baseline), we characterized trajectories of PLEs using latent growth mixture models assessed using the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief Child Version. We examined trajectories of Total and Distress scores. We used multinomial logistic regressions to examine associations between baseline lifestyle behaviors (including self-reported screen time, physical activity and caffeine intake, and parent-reported sleep disturbances and recreational activities) and PLE trajectories.RESULTS: We identified four trajectories of distress-related PLEs: No Distress (27%), Rapid Decreasing (17%), Gradual Decreasing (36%), and Persistent Elevated Distress (21%). Compared with the No Distress trajectory, individuals in the Persistent Elevated Distress trajectory spent more time using screens (adjusted Odds Ratio [OR] 2.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.03-2.53), had higher caffeine intake (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.28-2.04), greater sleep disturbance (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.45-1.73), participated in fewer recreational activities (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.68-0.83) and less frequent physical activity (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.74-0.89). Greater screen time and sleep disturbances further distinguished the most severe group from all other trajectories. Findings were similar when examining total scores. Results remained statistically significant when we included established risk factors of psychosis in each model.CONCLUSIONS: Lifestyle factors associate with trajectories of PLE-related distress, providing novel tools for intervention and risk prediction.</p
The incidence of psychotic disorders among migrants in the Netherlands:Findings from the multinational EU-GEI study
Full text linkDoelHet vergelijken van de incidentie van een psychose onder migranten met de incidentie onder mensen met een Nederlandse achtergrond in Amsterdam en de regio Gouda en Voorhout.OpzetWe hebben getracht om voor de Europese studie ‘European Network of National Schizophrenia Networks Studying Gene-Environment Interactions’ (EU-GEI) alle patiënten te includeren met een eerste psychose waar behandeling voor werd gezocht in bovengenoemde regio’s in de periode 2010-2013. Met informatie over de bevolkingsopbouw werden incidentiecijfers berekend.Methode‘Incidence rate’ ratio (IRR)’s van een psychose in verschillende herkomstgroepen in vergelijking met niet-migranten zijn geanalyseerd in een Poisson-model.ResultatenDe gestandaardiseerde incidentie in Amsterdam bedroeg 55,3 per 100.000 persoonsjaren onder migranten en 24,9 per 100.000 persoonsjaren onder personen met een Nederlandse achtergrond. In Gouda en Voorhout waren deze cijfers respectievelijk 29,5 en 20,0 per 100.000 persoonsjaren. In Amsterdam werden opvallend verhoogde incidenties gevonden onder Marokkaanse mannen van de eerste (IRR: 4,07; 95%-BI: 1,76-9,42) en de tweede generatie (IRR: 6,48; 95%-BI: 3,30-12,68). In Gouda en Voorhout werden verhoogde incidenties gevonden onder zowel Marokkaanse mannen van de eerste generatie (IRR: 3,37; 95%-BI:1,17-9,74) als Marokkaanse vrouwen van de tweede generatie (IRR:7,10; 95%-BI: 2,79-18,06). Verder werden in Amsterdam verhoogde incidenties gevonden voor mannen uit Oost-Europa (IRR:4,52; 95%-BI: 2,24-9,11), migranten uit Sub-Saharaans Afrika (IRR:3,15; 95%-BI: 1,68-5,91) en eerstegeneratie-migranten, zowel mannen als vrouwen, uit Suriname en Nederlandse Antillen. Onder westerse migranten werden verlaagde incidentiecijfers gevonden.ConclusieOnder niet-westerse migranten – en in Amsterdam ook onder Oost-Europese migranten – werd een verhoogd risico op een psychose gevonden. De variatie naar regio van herkomst en bestemming, generatie en geslacht suggereert dat dit risico afhankelijk zou kunnen zijn van de sociale context.Abstract:OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence of psychosis among migrants with the incidence among the native Dutch in Amsterdam, Gouda and Voorhout. DESIGN: We identified patients with a first treated episode of psychosis (ICD-10 codes F20-F33) in 2010-2013 as part of the European Network of National Schizophrenia Networks Studying Gene-Environment Interactions (EU-GEI) study. Information on the composition of the population made it possible to calculate incidence rates. METHOD: We analyzed the Incidence Rate Ratios (IRR) of psychosis among various ethnic groups compared to the native Dutch using a Poisson model. RESULTS: The standardized rates in Amsterdam were 55.3/ 100,000 person-years (py) for migrants and 24.9/ 100,000py for native Dutch. In Gouda and Voorhout, these rates were 28.5 en 20.0/ 100,000py. We found increased rates among Moroccan males of the first (IRR=4.07 [95%-CI: 1.76-9.42]) and second generation (IRR=6.48 [3.30-12.68]) in Amsterdam. In Gouda and Voorhout, we found increased rates both among Moroccan males (IRR=3.37 [1.17-9.74]) of the first generation and Moroccan females of the second generation (IRR=7.10 [2.79-18.06]). High rates were also found in Amsterdam for male migrants from Eastern Europe (IRR=4.52 [2.24-9.11]), migrants from sub-Saharan Africa (IRR=3.15 [1.68-5.91]) and first-generation migrants, both males and females, from Surinam and the Netherlands Antilles. We found a decreased incidence for Western migrants. CONCLUSION: We found an increased incidence of psychosis among non-Western migrants and in Amsterdam also among Eastern-European migrants. The variation by region of origin and destination generation, and gender suggests that this risk is strongly influenced by the societal context
Child maltreatment, migration and risk of first-episode psychosis: results from the multinational EU-GEI study
Full text linkThe EU-GEI Project was funded by grant agreement Health-F2-2010-241909 from the European Community’s Seventh
Framework program. The Brazilian study was funded by grant 2012-0417-0 from the São Paulo Research FoundationD'Andrea, Giuseppe; Lal, Jatin; Tosato, Sarah;Gayer-Anderson, Charlotte;Jongsma, Hannah E.;Stilo, Simona A.; van der Ven, Els;Quattrone, Diego;Velthorst, Eva;Berardi, Domenico;Rossi Menezes, Paulo; Arango, Celso; Parellada, Mara; Lasalvia, Antonio; La Cascia, Caterina; Ferraro, Laura; La Barbera, Daniele; Sideli, Lucia; Bobes, Julio; Bernardo, Miguel; Sanjuan, Julio; Santos, Jose Luis; Arrojo, Manuel; Marta Del-Ben, Cristina; Tripoli, Giada; Llorca, Pierre-Michel; de Haan, Lieuwe; Selten, Jean-Paul; Tortelli, Andrea; Szoke, Andrei; Muratori, Roberto; Rutten, Bart P.; van Os, Jim; Jones, Peter B.; Kirkbride, James B.; Murray, Robin M.; di Forti, Marta; Tarricone, Ilaria; Morgan, Crai
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