Psychological evaluations for asylum seekers have the aim of documenting trauma and abuse that was inflicted in a foreign country, and usually based on the applicant’s race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership of a social group. The evaluation usually occurs in a clinical interview which may include psychological testing of the immigrant applying for asylum. The results of the evaluation must support the asylum seeker’s claim of experiencing persecution as defined by immigration law. The evaluator must identify the source of psychological symptoms on which an asylum application is founded. Common reactions of asylees who endure atrocities of torture and forced resettlement, and suffer prolonged, multiple and repeated traumatization will be discussed. This presentation will review the effects of trauma among asylees and the steps to follow in conducting an evaluation.
Learning Objectives
1) Participants will be able to list at least two effects of political trauma and refugee status
2) Participants will be able to discuss the process of conducting an asylee evaluation
3) Participants will be able to discuss different trauma scales used in asylee evaluations