Belief Systems as Coping Factors in Traumatized Refugees: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Belief systems have been considered to be coping factors for traumatized refugees. We present a prospective and extended version of a previous retrospective study reviewing the importance of different coping factors such as belief systems, previous traumatization and social integration in the treatment of traumatized refugees. A longitudinal design was used in order to analyze the treatment of 49 refugees, finding that amelioration of posttraumatic symptomatology is related to social and intellectual factors; namely education, living with a partner, a secure resident status and the use of medication. The previous level of traumatization did not present an obstacle to the therapy. Although non-significant, those patients who had strong belief systems showed better improvement. The importance of sociocultural and beliefs as coping and therapeutic factors is discussed.