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. 2024 Apr;44(2):217-224.
doi: 10.1055/s-0044-1782495. Epub 2024 Mar 18.

Neurological Care of Refugees and Other Forcibly Displaced Persons

Altaf Saadi  1 , Meha Prabhu  2 , Sara A Snyder  1 , Lynn Daboul  3 , Farrah J Mateen  1
Affiliations

Neurological Care of Refugees and Other Forcibly Displaced Persons

Altaf Saadi et al. Semin Neurol. 2024 Apr.

Abstract

There are more than 100 million forcibly displaced persons (FDPs) in the world today, including a high number of people who experience neurologic symptoms and presentations. This review summarizes the conceptual frameworks for understanding neurological health risks and conditions across the migration journey (premigration, migration journey, and postmigration) and life span, including special attention to pediatric FDPs. The interaction with psychiatric illness is discussed, as well as the available published data on neurologic presentations in FDPs in the medical literature. A social determinant of health lens is used to provide ways in which forcible displacement can influence brain health and neurological outcomes. Priorities and future needs for the neurological care of refugees and other FDPs are suggested.

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Conflict of interest statement

None declared.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Adapted Immigration Intercept Model
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