Characteristics and scope of humanitarian relief forensic medical evaluations for immigrant children in the US.

According to US Customs and Border Protection, over 473,000 family units and 76,000 unaccompanied children were apprehended in 2019, a multi-fold increase from previous years. Thus, the number of children who may be eligible for humanitarian relief has increased significantly. For those claiming humanitarian relief, forensic medical evaluations performed by health professionals can provide critical evidence to bolster claims.

Surviving violent, traumatic loss after severe political persecution: lessons from the evaluation of a Venezuelan asylum seeker.

In July 2019, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) released a report urging the Venezuelan government to take immediate action to address the 'grave violations of economic, social, civil, political and cultural rights' occurring in the country. This case study highlights the human rights violations occurring in Venezuela through the case of a Venezuelan woman who experienced political persecution and traumatic loss resulting from her opposition to the ruling socialist party. As the clinical team of evaluators explored the mental health effects of surviving threats on her own life and the politically motivated assassination of her husband, it was agreed that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition did not fully capture the extent of her suffering.

Twelve tips for incorporating the study of human rights into medical education.

In order for patients to be adequately cared for by clinicians, an awareness and acknowledgement of the factors that affect their well-being, including adherence to internationally recognized human rights, should be part of the professional education of all health care professionals. Worldwide conflicts, which have led to record forced global displacement, and ongoing international human rights violations have had profound effects on the health and well-being of millions of patients. Trainees early in their careers should be educated about these and related population-level issues that affect the health of their patients, so they can better care and advocate for their patients and communities throughout their careers.

A gay Nigerian man's journey to asylum in the USA.

We report the case of an individual from Nigeria seeking asylum in the USA on the basis of persecution for being gay, who was physically and sexually assaulted in Nigeria and detained upon arrival to the USA. We present physical examination findings and the results of a brief mental health evaluation performed at Elizabeth Detention Center in New Jersey for his asylum evaluation. Individuals are able to seek asylum as members of a "particular social group", in this case, being gay.

Asylum Seekers in a Time of Record Forced Global Displacement: the Role of Physicians.

In 2016, over 65 million individuals were displaced from their homes due to human rights abuses, and 262,000 people applied for asylum in the USA. Individuals who have experienced persecution are present in many primary and specialty clinics. A medical forensic evaluation can increase the likelihood of a successful asylum case.

Assisting asylum seekers in a time of global forced displacement: Five clinical cases.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees, over 65 million people were displaced from their homes due to conflict and persecution in 2015. Many physicians express an interest in human rights and a desire to assist this group of refugees and asylum seekers. Physicians are able to use their unique skills by performing medical forensic evaluations of individuals seeking asylum.

Treatment of binge eating disorder in racially and ethnically diverse obese patients in primary care: randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial of self-help and medication.

The objective was to determine whether treatments with demonstrated efficacy for binge eating disorder (BED) in specialist treatment centers can be delivered effectively in primary care settings to racially/ethnically diverse obese patients with BED. This study compared the effectiveness of self-help cognitive-behavioral therapy (shCBT) and an anti-obesity medication (sibutramine), alone and in combination, and it is only the second placebo-controlled trial of any medication for BED to evaluate longer-term effects after treatment discontinuation. 104 obese patients with BED (73% female, 55% non-white) were randomly assigned to one of four 16-week treatments (balanced 2-by-2 factorial design): sibutramine (N = 26), placebo (N = 27), shCBT + sibutramine (N = 26), or shCBT + placebo (N = 25).

Metabolic syndrome in obese patients with binge-eating disorder in primary care clinics: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The distribution and nature of metabolic syndrome in obese patients with binge-eating disorder (BED) are largely unknown and require investigation, particularly in general internal medicine settings. The objectives of this study were to (1) examine the frequency of metabolic syndrome and (2) explore its eating- and weight-related correlates in obese patients with BED.

Method: This was a cross-sectional analysis of 81 consecutive treatment-seeking obese (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m(2)) patients (21 men, 60 women) who met DSM-IV-TR research criteria for BED (either subthreshold criteria: ≥ 1 binge weekly, n = 19 or full criteria: ≥ 2 binges weekly, n = 62).