Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder by Trained Lay Counsellors in an African Refugee Settlement

University of Konstanz

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 3

Conditions: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: Narrative Exposure Therapy; Behavioral: Trauma Counselling

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00550056

NeEl-Ug-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

The study is a pragmatic trial to study the efficacy of two active methods of psychotherapy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder in a refugee camp in Africa. Treatment was administered by lay counsellors.

Full description

Traumatic stress due to conflict and war causes major mental health problems in many resource-poor countries, especially those coping with displaced populations. There is a lack of intervention research in these populations.

Te purpose of this study was to examine whether trained lay counsellors can carry out effective treatment of PTSD in a refugee settlement.

Enrollment: 277 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder

Exclusion criteria

• Drug abuse
• Psychosis
• Mental retardation

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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277 participants in 3 patient groups

1

Experimental group

Description:

NET

Treatment:

Behavioral: Narrative Exposure Therapy

2

Experimental group

Description:

TC

Treatment:

Behavioral: Trauma Counselling

3

No Intervention group

Description:

Monitoring Group