Psychological and Psychosocial Intervention With War-Affected Children

Queen's University Belfast

Status: Completed

Conditions: Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Conduct; Depression; Anxiety; Pro-social Behavior

Treatments: Behavioral: Child Friendly Space; Behavioral: Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01509872

PREC73-2011

Details and patient eligibility

About

The investigators are interested in knowing whether a group-based, trauma-focused intervention (Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is superior to a more general, non trauma-focused, psychosocial intervention (Child Friendly Spaces) in reducing post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety and conduct problems and increasing pro-social behavior among war-affected children in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Enrollment: 50 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 7 to 18 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• under 18 years of age,
• witness to a violent event involving a real or perceived direct threat to life,
• ability to attend a 3-week intervention

Exclusion criteria

• psychosis,
• mental retardation,
• inability to understand Swahili,
• severe emotional & behavioral problems that made group participation impossible

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

---

50 participants in 2 patient groups

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Experimental group

Description:

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (Cohen, Mannarino, Deblinger, 2006; Smith and Saunders, 2005) is a child-friendly, manualised psychological intervention for children who experience nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, anger, social isolation, poor concentration or self-blame after experiencing or witnessing a violent and terrifying life event (e.g. rape, murder, abduction etc). This intervention was culturally modified for use with war-affected children.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

A Child Friendly Space

Active Comparator group

Description:

A Child Friendly Space is a psychosocial intervention combining creative (e.g. art), imaginative (e.g. drama), physical (e.g. football), communicative (e.g. group discussions) and manipulative activities (e.g. story telling). It aids children's natural development by providing a safe place for children to learn, express themselves, grow and develop, supported by trained animators and peer educators.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Child Friendly Space