Torture : quarterly journal on rehabilitation of torture victims and prevention of torture
Volume 25, Issue 1, 2015, Pages 1-16

Follow-up study of the treatment outcomes at a psychiatric trauma clinic for refugees (Article)

Buhmann C. , Mortensen E.L. , Nordentoft M. , Ryberg J. , Ekstrøm M.
  • a Competence Center for Transcultural Psychiatry (CTP), Psychiatric Center Ballerup, the Mental Health Services of the Capital Region of Denmark. Correspondence to: [email protected], Denmark
  • b Competence Center for Transcultural Psychiatry (CTP), Psychiatric Center Ballerup, the Mental Health Services of the Capital Region of Denmark. Correspondence to: [email protected], Denmark
  • c Competence Center for Transcultural Psychiatry (CTP), Psychiatric Center Ballerup, the Mental Health Services of the Capital Region of Denmark. Correspondence to: [email protected], Denmark
  • d Competence Center for Transcultural Psychiatry (CTP), Psychiatric Center Ballerup, the Mental Health Services of the Capital Region of Denmark. Correspondence to: [email protected], Denmark
  • e Competence Center for Transcultural Psychiatry (CTP), Psychiatric Center Ballerup, the Mental Health Services of the Capital Region of Denmark. Correspondence to: [email protected], Denmark

Abstract

PURPOSE: To describe change in mental health after treatment with antidepressants and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy.METHODS: Patients receiving treatment at the Psychiatric Trauma Clinic for Refugees in Copenhagen completed self-ratings of level of functioning, quality of life, and symptoms of PTSD, depression and anxiety before and after treatment. Changes in mental state and predictors of change were evaluated in a sample that all received well-described and comparable treatment.RESULTS: 85 patients with PTSD or depression were included in the analysis. Significant improvement and effect size were observed on all rating scales (p-value <0.01 and Cohen's d 45-0.68). Correlation analysis showed no association between severity of symptoms at baseline and the observed change.CONCLUSION: Despite methodological limitations, the finding of a significant improvement on all rating scales is important considering that previous follow-up studies of comparable patient populations have not found significant change in the patients'condition after treatment.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

depression refugee Follow-Up Studies follow up mental health human epidemiology Refugees middle aged Denmark Ethnic Groups ethnic group cognitive therapy ethnology procedures quality of life Young Adult Humans psychology Treatment Outcome male female Retrospective Studies adult retrospective study Torture
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84965139738&partnerID=40&md5=7a25a38f912c4275f880af1cc2e1aa79
ISSN: 19973322
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English