Psychiatry Research
Volume 271, 2019, Pages 684-692

Interpreter-mediated psychotherapy with trauma-affected refugees – A retrospective cohort study (Article)

Sander R.* , Laugesen H. , Skammeritz S. , Mortensen E.L. , Carlsson J.
  • a Competence Centre for Transcultural Psychiatry, Mental Health Centre Ballerup, Mental Health Services of the Capital Region, Ballerup, Denmark, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • b Competence Centre for Transcultural Psychiatry, Mental Health Centre Ballerup, Mental Health Services of the Capital Region, Ballerup, Denmark
  • c Competence Centre for Transcultural Psychiatry, Mental Health Centre Ballerup, Mental Health Services of the Capital Region, Ballerup, Denmark, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • d Department of Public Health and Center for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • e Competence Centre for Transcultural Psychiatry, Mental Health Centre Ballerup, Mental Health Services of the Capital Region, Ballerup, Denmark, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

Abstract

The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to examine if interpreter-mediated psychotherapy with trauma-affected refugees affects treatment outcome. The clinical sample consisted of 825 patients who, as part of treatment, were offered 16 sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy. The cohort was allocated to two subsamples based on whether interpreters were used in psychotherapy or not and the treatment outcome for the two subsamples was compared. The primary outcome measure was severity of PTSD-symptoms (Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ)) and secondary outcome measures were depression and anxiety symptoms (Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25), Hamilton Depression and Anxiety rating scales (HAM-D, HAM-A)), somatisation (somatisation items of SCL-90 (SI-SCL-90)), quality of life (WHO-5-Well-being Index (WHO-5)) and functioning (Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF-F, GAF-S)). Compared to no use of interpreter, the use of interpreter in psychotherapy was associated with less improvement during treatment on the primary outcome measure HTQ and the secondary outcome measures HSCL-25, SI-SCL-90, SDS, WHO-5, HAM-A, but not on GAF-S, GAF-F and HAM-D. Based on the primary outcome measure HTQ and the majority of the secondary ratings the subsample in interpreter-mediated psychotherapy had less improvement in their mental health status compared to the subsample without interpreter. © 2018

Author Keywords

posttraumatic stress disorder Cognitive behavioural therapy

Index Keywords

anxiety depression refugee mental health human Refugees psychologic assessment middle aged Cohort Studies Denmark controlled study cognitive behavioral therapy health status priority journal comparative study procedures Global Assessment of Functioning Sheehan Disability Scale Hamilton Depression and Anxiety rating scale psychotherapy quality of life Surveys and Questionnaires Humans treatment duration psychology Treatment Outcome male female Harvard Trauma Questionnaire questionnaire Article Retrospective Studies major clinical study translating (language) adult Translating posttraumatic stress disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic outcome assessment cohort analysis Hopkins Symptom Checklist 25 retrospective study quality of life assessment
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85058412097&doi=10.1016%2fj.psychres.2018.12.058&partnerID=40&md5=61970bf3e17a74b1ed5d91f723bfc52a
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.12.058
ISSN: 01651781
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English