BMC Psychiatry
Volume 15, Issue 1, 2015

Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy with unaccompanied refugee minors: A case series (Article) (Open Access)

Unterhitzenberger J.* , Eberle-Sejari R. , Rassenhofer M. , Sukale T. , Rosner R. , Goldbeck L.
  • a Catholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Clinical and Biological Psychology, Ostenstrasse 25, Eichstätt, 85071, Germany
  • b Catholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Clinical and Biological Psychology, Ostenstrasse 25, Eichstätt, 85071, Germany
  • c University Ulm, Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Steinhövelstrasse 5, Ulm, 89075, Germany
  • d University Ulm, Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Steinhövelstrasse 5, Ulm, 89075, Germany
  • e Catholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Clinical and Biological Psychology, Ostenstrasse 25, Eichstätt, 85071, Germany
  • f University Ulm, Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Steinhövelstrasse 5, Ulm, 89075, Germany

Abstract

Background: Unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs) are a group who are vulnerable to developing posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). However, they rarely receive the treatment that is indicated and there are no treatment studies focusing exclusively on this group of adolescents. This case study evaluates the feasibility of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) for URMs with PTSS. Method: A health care utilization sample of N = 6 was assessed prior to and after treatment with TF-CBT. Therapists were asked to report differences in treatment application and content in comparison to TF-CBT standard protocol. Results: We found moderate to high levels of PTSS at baseline and a clinically significant decrease in symptoms at posttest. Some modifications to the TF-CBT protocol were made with regard to affective modulation which required more sessions than usual whereas fewer caregiver sessions were conducted. Conclusion: TF-CBT is feasible in reducing PTSS in severely traumatized URMs. Further research with controlled trials is necessary. © 2015 Unterhitzenberger et al.

Author Keywords

Trauma-focused Adolescent Unaccompanied Treatment PTSD Refugee

Index Keywords

Germany refugee multicenter study methodology clinical trial psychoeducation Research Design cognitive processing clinician administered posttraumatic stress disorder scale for children and adolescents trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy affective modulation Iranian people enhancing future safety human Refugees relaxation training controlled study cognitive behavioral therapy narrative therapy Minors randomized controlled trial Somali (citizen) cognitive therapy Feasibility Studies procedures Young Adult Humans psychology Adolescent Treatment Outcome male female clinical article Article feasibility study minor (person) health care utilization adult posttraumatic stress disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic anxiety assessment caregiver support Afghan
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84945247972&doi=10.1186%2fs12888-015-0645-0&partnerID=40&md5=4938eb1571db1ff4d2642953e712b110
DOI: 10.1186/s12888-015-0645-0
ISSN: 1471244X
Cited by: 26
Original Language: English