Ukrainian refugee crisis center at the University Hospital's Psychiatric Clinic for Adults, Children and Adolescents in Krakow

Abstract

Purpose: Since 2022, Poland, particularly Krakow, has been at the forefront of providing assistance to Ukrainian refugees, displaced by military operations. The mental health impact of war trauma, notably post-traumatic stress disorder and acute stress reaction (ASR), necessitated immediate psychiatric interventions. To provide psychological support for refugees, a team of nine specialists was formed within the Department of Adult, Child, and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University Hospital in Krakow. This study aims to present the functioning of our crisis center and challenges it has faced, while comparing our approach to mental health care for refugees in other countries.

Methods: Data were collected from the center's activities and collaborations with partners, focusing on psychiatric care for Ukrainian refugees. Each patient was diagnosed by a psychiatrist based on ICD-10 classification.

Results: 107 visits were held, primarily with females aged 8 to 75 and males aged 2.5 to 65. The visits mostly took place at the crisis center. Patients presented with mental health concerns including suicidal ideation, sleep disorders, and self-mutilation. Among females, the most common diagnoses were ASR (45.45%), autism spectrum disorder (14.29%), depressive disorder, and recurrent depression (total 14.29%). For males, these were ASR (35.00%), autism spectrum disorder (35.00%), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (20.00%). Challenges such as language barriers and the fact that the center was unprepared for the influx of refugees were identified.

Conclusions: Given the considerable challenges encountered, the study emphasizes the need for mental health support for refugees and indicates the need to integrate the preparation for refugee crises into civil protection strategies.

Keywords: PTSD; Ukraine; mental health; trauma; war.