A comparison of narrative exposure therapy, supportive counseling, and psychoeducation for treating posttraumatic stress disorder in an african refugee settlement.
Little is known about the usefulness of psychotherapeutic approaches for traumatized refugees who continue to live in dangerous conditions. Narrative exposure therapy (NET) is a short-term approach based on cognitive-behavioral therapy and testimony therapy. The efficacy of narrative exposure therapy was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial. Sudanese refugees living in a Ugandan refugee settlement (N = 43) who were diagnosed as suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) either received 4 sessions of NET, 4 sessions of supportive counseling (SC), or psychoeducation (PE) completed in 1 session. One year after treatment, only 29% of the NET participants but 79% of the SC group and 80% of the PE group still fulfilled PTSD criteria. These results indicate that NET is a promising approach for the treatment of PTSD for refugees living in unsafe conditions.
Neuner
Frank
F
Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany. frank.neuner@uni-konstanz.de
Schauer
Margarete
M
Klaschik
Christine
C
Karunakara
Unni
U
Elbert
Thomas
T
D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D033262:Narration; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D012449:Safety; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013397:Sudan / Q000208:ethnology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014454:Uganda