Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Syrian Refugees: A Review

War is a disaster that has both acute and long-term effects, which often results in refugee migration, as has been the case in the Syrian war. Most agencies and organizations concentrate on providing necessities such as food, clothing, and shelter. However, mental health must not be forgotten among other important needs of the refugees. This review explores the mental health needs of refugees, with a focus on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that refugees appear especially susceptible to PTSD and PTSD symptoms, especially women and children. Although PTSD can lead to other negative consequences such as physical health complications, many are unlikely to seek help and treatment remains widely unavailable to refugees. Viable treatment options for PTSD and presented and telehealth is proposed as a way to overcome barriers to service delivery for this population.