A qualitative study of refugees with psychotic symptoms

Abstract

Refugees experience higher rates of psychotic symptoms, in particular auditory hallucinations. This study aimed to explore the experience of refugees diagnosed with psychosis from a first-person perceptive. Seven refugees from a routine clinical service who had experienced trauma were interviewed. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed, generating six main themes: bleak agitated immobility, trauma-related perceptions, fear and mistrust of others, the sense of a broken self, the pain of losing everything, and the attraction of death. Six participants experienced voices, sounds, or visual phenomena thematically linked to past trauma. The sense of hopelessness was striking. Potential aims for therapy are a focus on helplessness, fear and coping, but also on the person’s lack of a sense of purpose, trust and engagement in everyday activities.