BMC Psychiatry
Volume 5, 2005

Narrative Exposure Therapy as a treatment for child war survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder: Two case reports and a pilot study in an African refugee settlement (Article) (Open Access)

Onyut L.P. , Neuner F.* , Schauer E. , Ertl V. , Odenwald M. , Schauer M. , Elbert T.
  • a Vivo Uganda, Mbarara, Uganda, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda, University of Konstanz, Centre for Psychiatry Reichenau, Feursteinstr. 55, D-78479 Reichenau-Lindenbühl, Germany
  • b Vivo Uganda, Mbarara, Uganda, University of Konstanz, Centre for Psychiatry Reichenau, Feursteinstr. 55, D-78479 Reichenau-Lindenbühl, Germany
  • c Vivo Uganda, Mbarara, Uganda, University of Konstanz, Centre for Psychiatry Reichenau, Feursteinstr. 55, D-78479 Reichenau-Lindenbühl, Germany
  • d University of Konstanz, Centre for Psychiatry Reichenau, Feursteinstr. 55, D-78479 Reichenau-Lindenbühl, Germany
  • e Vivo Uganda, Mbarara, Uganda, University of Konstanz, Centre for Psychiatry Reichenau, Feursteinstr. 55, D-78479 Reichenau-Lindenbühl, Germany
  • f Vivo Uganda, Mbarara, Uganda, University of Konstanz, Centre for Psychiatry Reichenau, Feursteinstr. 55, D-78479 Reichenau-Lindenbühl, Germany
  • g Vivo Uganda, Mbarara, Uganda, University of Konstanz, Centre for Psychiatry Reichenau, Feursteinstr. 55, D-78479 Reichenau-Lindenbühl, Germany

Abstract

Background: Little data exists on the effectiveness of psychological interventions for children with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that has resulted from exposure to war or conflict-related violence, especially in non-industrialized countries. We created and evaluated the efficacy of KIDNET, a child-friendly version of Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), as a short-term treatment for children. Methods: Six Somali children suffering from PTSD aged 12-17 years resident in a refugee settlement in Uganda were treated with four to six individual sessions of KIDNET by expert clinicians. Symptoms of PTSD and depression were assessed pre-treatment, post-treatment and at nine months follow-up using the CIDI Sections K and E. Results: Important symptom reduction was evident immediately after treatment and treatment outcomes were sustained at the 9-month follow-up. All patients completed therapy, reported functioning gains and could be helped to reconstruct their traumatic experiences into a narrative with the use of illustrative material. Conclusions: NET may be safe and effective to treat children with war related PTSD in the setting of refugee settlements in developing countries. © 2005 Onyut et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

habituation Negro depression refugee controlled clinical trial psychological aspect clinical trial methodology developing country follow up human Developing Countries Refugees survivor war Survivors controlled study Depressive Disorder ethnology Uganda aversion therapy Habituation, Psychophysiologic Aversive Therapy psychotherapy school child Humans Treatment Outcome Adolescent male African Continental Ancestry Group female safety pilot study short course therapy verbal communication clinical article Narration Article posttraumatic stress disorder Somalia Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Pilot Projects Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-26844481129&doi=10.1186%2f1471-244X-5-7&partnerID=40&md5=5151946c04d2c28bcb161a8e4a65a591
DOI: 10.1186/1471-244X-5-7
ISSN: 1471244X
Cited by: 82
Original Language: English