Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder among asylum seekers in Germany and its detection in the application process for asylum

Background: In revent years the problem of trauma among asylum seekers has become a central isssue in science and asylum practice in Germany. Unfortunately, until now the prevalence of PTSD in this specific group was not known. Further, it was uncertain whether employees of the "Department for the Recognition of Refugees" (Bundesamt zur Anerkennung auslandischer Fluchtline, BAFI) were able to recognise symptoms of PTSD during asylum interviews. Objective. What is the prevalence of PTSD among asylum seekers in Germany? Are employees of the BAFI able to recognise the symptoms of PTSD during asylum interviews? Methods: 15 employees where trained to detect symptoms of PTSD in asylum seekers using the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS). Seventy-six asylum seekers were included in this study. The PDS scale was given to them by the BAFI employess in addition to the regular interview in the application for asylum. Forty of these people were interviewed a second time by psychologists of the Psychotrauma Research and Outpatient Clinic for Refugees at the University of Konstanz and tested in more detail. Results: The study found a PTSD prevalence rate of 40%. There was very little correlation between the findings of the BAFI employees and those of the psychological team. Conclusions. These findings imply that PTSD is a relevant problem among asylum seekers in Germany. They also imply that employees of the BAFI are at present not able to identify PTSD. This is even more worrying when we consider the fact that many of the undiscovered cases of PTSD were found to be caused by torture and persecution-incidents that meet the criteria for asylum in Germany, once they are detected. The study clearly illustrates that on the issue posttraumatic stress disorder there is a great need for action German in asylum policy.