Suicidality in treatment-seeking traumatized refugees: Prevalence and risk factors

Introduction: Refugees are at heightened risk for suicidality due to trauma exposure, elevated prevalence of mental disorders, and postmigration stressors. Suicidal behavior disorder (SBD), included in DSM-5 for research purposes, has not yet been examined in this population.Methods: In a sample of N = 103 treatment-seeking refugees, SBD prevalence was assessed using a clinical interview. Associations between suicidality (presence and severity) and risk factors—gender, age, PTSD, disorders of self-organization (DSO), depression, insecure asylum status, flight duration, postmigration living difficulties (PMLD)—as well as the protective factor religiosity were examined via univariate and multivariate analyses.Results: SBD prevalence was 14.41% (n = 15). DSO and an insecure asylum status were associated with the presence of suicidality in univariate and multivariate analyses and with the severity of suicidality in multivariate analyses. Sexual trauma frequency was associated with the presence of suicidality, while PTSD severity and lower religiosity were linked to greater suicidality severity. Depressive symptoms were associated with suicidality only in univariate analyses.Conclusion: Suicidality should be systematically assessed in treatment-seeking refugees, particularly those with DSO or an insecure asylum status. Brief suicide prevention interventions may be warranted when treatment duration is uncertain, and targeted PTSD treatments should be offered when indicated.