Cognitive-behavioral treatment of tortured asylum seekers: a case study.
The present study examined results of cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) in a 22-year-old, male, tortured asylum-seeker living in Sweden. The patient received 16 sessions of CBT involving mainly self-exposure to trauma-related cues. Clinical measures (assessor- and self-rated) were completed at pre-treatment, weeks 6, 8, 12, and 16, post-treatment and at follow-up (1-, 3-, and 6-month). Treatment led to significant improvement across all measures of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. The improvement was maintained at 6-month follow-up. The results suggest that CBT could be useful in treating tortured asylum-seekers and refugees despite the additional stressors experienced by asylum-seekers and refugees.
Başoğlu
Metin
M
Section of Trauma Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Division of Psychological Medicine, University of London, 38 Carver Road, London SE24 9LT, UK. m.basoglu@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Ekblad
Solvig
S
Bäärnhielm
Sofie
S
Livanou
Maria
M
D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012036:Refugees; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D014104:Torture; D016896:Treatment Outcome