Narrative Exposure Therapy Versus Group Interpersonal Psychotherapy

University of Konstanz

Status and phase

Terminated

Phase 2

Conditions

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Narrative Exposure Therapy

Depression

Treatments

Behavioral: Narrative Exposure Therapy

Behavioral: group IPT

Other: 6 months-baseline

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT00623298

Fogr SOSS

Details and patient eligibility

About

The present study is a pragmatic trial that investigates the efficacy and usefulness of two treatment modules in a sample of Rwandan genocide orphans: Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) versus group-Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT). We used a half year baseline to measure the treatment-induced changes. We hypothesized that there would be a greater reduction in posttraumatic stress symptoms in the NET- than in the IPT-group and that IPT would be superior to NET in the reduction of depression symptoms.

Full description

The 1994 genocide of Rwanda has left countless children orphaned. 26 Rwandan orphans who fulfilled DSM-IV diagnosis of PTSD were offered participation in a controlled treatment trial. A group adaptation of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT, n = 14) was compared to Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET, n = 12). Main outcome measures were symptoms of PTSD and depression assessed pre-treatment, 3 months after therapy (post-test) and 6 months after therapy (follow-up) using the CAPS, MINI and Hamilton Rating Scale. At post-test, participants in both treatment conditions showed reductions in posttraumatic stress symptoms and depression symptoms. At 6-month follow-up, NET proved to be more effective in the treatment of PTSD. Only 25% (n = 3) of NET-participants but 71% (n = 10) of the IPT-participants still fulfilled PTSD criteria at follow-up. Although there was a significant reduction in depression symptoms in both treatment groups from pre-test to follow-up, NET again proved to be more effective. This treatment-trial demonstrates that NET and group-IPT are suitable treatment modules even when most severe traumatic stress and difficult living conditions have led to chronic mental suffering.

Enrollment

26 patients

Sex

All

Ages

13 to 29 years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Rwandan orphans who have experienced the genocide, who lost at least one parent during the genocide and who were no older than 18 years during the genocide

Exclusion criteria