Case Series for Traumatized Refugees With Khat Dependence

University of Konstanz

Status: Completed

Conditions: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Khat Use Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: Integrated Psychotherapeutic Intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02259530

01DG13020_a

Details and patient eligibility

About

The research project will offer psychotherapeutic treatment to Somali refugees with PTSD and comorbid khat dependence. In this case series, evidence-based techniques will be applied and adapted to the cultural background of Somali refugees in Kenya.

Full description

More than 500.000 Somali refugees live in Kenya. This group is especially burdened by high rates of exposure to traumatic events, high prevalence of PTSD and a high comorbidity with substance use disorders, mainly related to khat (catha edulis). There's a shortage of literature on psychotherapeutic methods that are applicable in this group. The aim of this case series is to develop modifications of standard therapeutic techniques to the Somali culture and to the needs of this group. Twenty successive cases will be recruited from a community clinic where refugees often seek for treatment because of psychiatric problems. Senior level psychotherapists will apply and adapt techniques and approaches like Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA), Relapse Prevention (RP), and Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET); all sessions will be video recorded. Regular supervision with external experts and group discussions will be held to evaluate and adapt the single procedures and techniques. The aim of this study is the development of a standardized approach that can be used in a Randomized Controlled Trial which will be conduced in the future.

Enrollment: 20 estimated patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

PTSD (DSM-IV) Khat Dependence (DSM-IV)

Exclusion criteria

Severe Psychotic Disorder Suicidality Mental Disability

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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20 participants in 1 patient group

Integrated Psychotherapeutic Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Integrated treatment of khat use disorder and PTSD

Treatment:

Behavioral: Integrated Psychotherapeutic Intervention