Impact of the War in Ukraine on the Mental Health of Refugees Residing in Spain

NCT07427056 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 24/241-P
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 123
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background: Following the outbreak of war in Ukraine on 24 February 2022, thousands of Ukrainians are crossing the borders every day in search of a place that offers them stability and security. Studies have concluded that the war has affected the mental health of Ukrainian refugees and led to the emergence of psycho-emotional disorders. Hypothesis: The migration process and/or exposure to news related to the war in Ukraine negatively affect the mental health of refugees. Objectives: To explore the impact on mental health caused by the war in Ukraine on the refugee population residing in the province of Tarragona after the start of the Russian invasion in 2022. Methodology: Descriptive observational study of a quantitative and qualitative cross-sectional nature with structured surveys and semi-structured interviews. Statistical analysis will be performed using the SPSS programme and the ATLAS.ti programme or similar will be used for data analysis using qualitative methodology. Expected results: The conditions associated with exposure to war, migration, the search for a home, and the influence of the media on mental health contribute to Ukrainian refugees exhibiting psycho-emotional disturbances and difficulties in adapting to their new location. Applicability and relevance: The lack of scientific evidence developed in Spain on Ukrainian refugees and the need to raise awareness of this situation, as well as the possibility of contributing to the improvement of social and health policies on migration and the reception of refugees.

Conditions

Refugee; Mental Health; War Injury

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Depressive symptoms

  Depressive symptoms will be assessed using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale from 0 to 3, generating a total score between 0 and 27. Higher total scores reflect greater depressive symptom severity.

  Baseline

• Anxiety symptoms

  The 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) is a self-reported measure of anxiety severity. Each item is rated on a 4-point scale from 0 to 3, resulting in a total score ranging from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety severity.

  Baseline

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Spain after the start of the war in Ukraine and are currently residing in the province of Tarragona.

You may qualify if:

• Ukrainian nationals who arrived in Spain following the outbreak of war in Ukraine in February 2022.
• Have reached the age of majority before participating in the study.
• Have been recognized by the competent Spanish authority as applicants for temporary protection due to the outbreak of war in Ukraine.
• Reside in the province of Tarragona at the time of participation in the study.
• Have given written consent to participate in the study.

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of physical or mental limitations that interfere with the person's ability to participate in the study, such as sensory deficits (visual, auditory), disorders related to motor coordination, cognitive disorders, or disorders that hinder language (comprehension and/or speech).
• Not having electronic devices (computer, mobile phone, etc.) to participate in the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Institut Investigacio Sanitaria Pere Virgili: lead

Study Sites (1)

IDIAP Jordi Gol

Barcelona, Spain

Location

Related Publications (8)

• Henkelmann JR, de Best S, Deckers C, Jensen K, Shahab M, Elzinga B, Molendijk M. Anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in refugees resettling in high-income countries: systematic review and meta-analysis. BJPsych Open. 2020 Jul 2;6(4):e68. doi: 10.1192/bjo.2020.54.

  PMID: 32611475 BACKGROUND

• Guerrero Z, Melicharova H, Kavanova M, Prokop D, Skvrnak M, Kunc M, Leontiyeva Y, Vitikova J, Spurny M, Pilnacek M, Kysela M, Zhmurko O, Tabery P, Winkler P. Mental health conditions and help-seeking among Ukrainian war refugees in Czechia: A cross-sectional study. Psychiatry Res. 2023 Nov;329:115552. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115552. Epub 2023 Oct 18.

  PMID: 37864995 BACKGROUND

• Rizzi D, Ciuffo G, Sandoli G, Mangiagalli M, de Angelis P, Scavuzzo G, Nych M, Landoni M, Ionio C. Running Away from the War in Ukraine: The Impact on Mental Health of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Refugees in Transit in Poland. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Dec 8;19(24):16439. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192416439.

  PMID: 36554321 BACKGROUND

• Mesa-Vieira C, Haas AD, Buitrago-Garcia D, Roa-Diaz ZM, Minder B, Gamba M, Salvador D Jr, Gomez D, Lewis M, Gonzalez-Jaramillo WC, Pahud de Mortanges A, Buttia C, Muka T, Trujillo N, Franco OH. Mental health of migrants with pre-migration exposure to armed conflict: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Public Health. 2022 May;7(5):e469-e481. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(22)00061-5.

  PMID: 35487232 BACKGROUND

• Asanov AM, Asanov I, Buenstorf G. Mental health and stress level of Ukrainians seeking psychological help online. Heliyon. 2023 Nov 4;9(11):e21933. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21933. eCollection 2023 Nov.

  PMID: 38027618 BACKGROUND

• Zasiekina L, Zasiekin S, Kuperman V. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Moral Injury Among Ukrainian Civilians During the Ongoing War. J Community Health. 2023 Oct;48(5):784-792. doi: 10.1007/s10900-023-01225-5. Epub 2023 Apr 29.

  PMID: 37119352 BACKGROUND

• Karatzias T, Shevlin M, Ben-Ezra M, McElroy E, Redican E, Vang ML, Cloitre M, Ho GWK, Lorberg B, Martsenkovskyi D, Hyland P. War exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder, and complex posttraumatic stress disorder among parents living in Ukraine during the Russian war. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2023 Mar;147(3):276-285. doi: 10.1111/acps.13529. Epub 2023 Jan 10.

  PMID: 36625445 BACKGROUND

• Morina N, Akhtar A, Barth J, Schnyder U. Psychiatric Disorders in Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons After Forced Displacement: A Systematic Review. Front Psychiatry. 2018 Sep 21;9:433. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00433. eCollection 2018.

  PMID: 30298022 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Psychological Well-Being

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Personal Satisfaction; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE ONLY
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Nurse

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 15, 2026
• First Posted: February 23, 2026
• Study Start: November 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: February 1, 2025
• Study Completion: February 1, 2026
• Last Updated: February 25, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Locations

ES (1)