UNRWA

Syrian Refugees

WSU researchers study
how PTSD affects their lives.

A

study launched by Wayne
mental and physical health; family
State University School of
dynamics and more.
Medicine researchers six
“We want to see the epidemio-
months ago to determine the mental logical and biological vulnerability
health impact and biological corre-
and resilience factors related to the
lation of civil war trauma on
effects of civil war trauma on
ABOVE:
Syrian refugees now living
this unique ethnic and cultural
Desperate
in the United States shows
population,” Javanbakht said.
crowd awaits
that 30 percent of adult
“We also collect saliva for
relief aid
refugees experience post-
genetic and epigenetic studies
at Yarmouk
traumatic stress disorder
of factors contributing to resil-
Palestinian
and 50 percent experience
ience or vulnerability to PTSD.
refugee camp
depression.
We collect hair to measure
in Damascus,
In addition, 60 percent
cortisol, which will let us know
2014.
of Syrian children show
the cumulative level of stress
signs of anxiety because of
over the last few months. We
the trauma — very likely
also look at inflammation
impacted by their mother’s
markers, as there is recent
PTSD, said study prin-
evidence linking the role of
cipal investigator Arash
inflammation to the develop-
Javanbakht, M.D., an assis-
ment of PTSD.”
tant professor of psychiatry
The physician, a dual
and behavioral neurosci-
citizen of Iran and the United
ences.
States, said, “I know the cul-
Dr. Arash
The refugees had been
ture. This group is very vul-
Javanbakht
in the U.S. for two to eight
nerable. They need the medi-
weeks at the time of their
cal field to advocate for them,
interviews with the researchers.
now instead of later.”
Javanbakht is a psychiatrist and
Many team members are volun-
director of the Stress, Trauma and
teers, including five research assis-
Anxiety Research Clinic on the
tants who served as dentists and
university’s campus in Detroit. The
physicians in Iraq and Dubai. They
study, “Risk and Resilience in Syrian
have a 90 percent success rate in
Refugees,” is his first research effort
recruiting eligible participants.
at WSU.
Javanbakht hopes to secure exter-
Working with the Arab American
nal funding to expand the study pop-
and Chaldean Council (ACC) and its
ulation and continue the work, with
related health clinics in Dearborn
plans to follow a cohort of refugee
and Sterling Heights, a team that
children for up to 20 years.
includes several former Iraqi war
He also is accepting donations to
refugees collected epidemiological,
provide culturally tailored interven-
genetic, inflammation and stress
tion and treatment, including tele-
data from 400 study participants,
medicine psychiatry services. “It is
including 95 families, now living in
vital to provide these interventions
Southeast Michigan.
sooner than later, to prevent ongoing
The refugees were also asked to
negative effects of PTSD and depres-
describe in the 10- to 30-minute
sion on day-to-day life and adjust-
interview any challenges they faced
ment of the refugees to their new
because of the civil war; their circum- environment.” •
stances before, during and after flee-
ing their home country; the meaning To donate, contact WSU’s Edward Maki-
Schramm at (313) 577-6482.
of this experience for them; their

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jn

April 27 • 2017

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