Peer-provided problem management plus (PM+) and case management for Arabic-speaking and Farsi-speaking refugees and asylum seekers in Greece

Abstract

An increasingly common response to the lack of specialist mental health services for refugees and asylum seekers in European host countries is peer-supported services. This study examined the association between a peer-provided psychosocial intervention and psychological symptom reduction among refugees and asylum seekers in Greece. The intervention consisted of Problem Management Plus (PM+) and peer case management sessions delivered by a team of Community Psychosocial Workers (trained refugees). The sample consisted of 173 participants, comprising Arabic and Farsi speakers, male and female participants, recognized refugees and asylum seekers. Anxiety, depression, and psychological distress were measured before and after the intervention using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and Psychological Outcome Profiles scales, respectively. Repeated measures analysis of variance was adopted to evaluate the difference in the degree of change across patient characteristics over the follow-up period. The level of statistical significance was set at p < .05, and analyses were conducted using SPSS statistical software (version 26.0). Significant decreases were found in all postintervention scores, indicating significant decreases in anxiety and depression symptoms as well as in psychological distress following the peer-provided psychosocial intervention, which included emotional support and social care. Large effect sizes were found at all scales. The findings support the notion that there is an association between the implemented intervention and symptom reduction in refugees. For future research, a randomized controlled trial is proposed as a study protocol.