Claude and the Blank Page
Carlo Ratti, Anna Meneghelli
The migrant and refugee population present a high risk of developing mental disorders due to the difficulties associated with abandoning their own nation and culture and following often very dramatic migratory journeys. The experience of migration can be complex and stressful, linked to events before departure, during the journey and transit and after arrival. We present the case of the application of a cognitive behavioral approach to a young migrant from Cameroon, with strong symptoms of discomfort and serious difficulties in entering the Extraordinary Reception Center (CAS). The approach to the treatment involved the use of Protect, Beck Depression Inventory and List of Migration Experiences (LiMes). These tests are associated with clinical interviews where the presence of a post-traumatic stress disorder in comorbidity with a depressive syndrome emerged. The intervention was developed in different phases: psychoeducation, relaxation, cognitive restructuring, and narrative exposition technique. At the end of therapy, the interviews and the re-administered tests showed a clear general improvement in the migrant’s state of health. There were no flashbacks, their ability to concentrate increased, their sleep was regularised and social relationships resumed.
Keywords
Immigration, CBT for refugees, PTSD, Depression, Narrative exposure technique.
