Journal of Traumatic Stress
Volume 27, Issue 3, 2014, Pages 314-322

Brief narrative exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress in Iraqi refugees: A preliminary randomized clinical trial (Article)

Hijazi A.M. , Lumley M.A.* , Ziadni M.S. , Haddad L. , Rapport L.J. , Arnetz B.B.
  • a Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
  • b Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
  • c Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
  • d Department of Psychiatry, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
  • e Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
  • f Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States

Abstract

Many Iraqi refugees suffer from posttraumatic stress. Efficient, culturally sensitive interventions are needed, and so we adapted narrative exposure therapy into a brief version (brief NET) and tested its effects in a sample of traumatized Iraqi refugees. Iraqi refugees in the United States reporting elevated posttraumatic stress (N = 63) were randomized to brief NET or waitlist control conditions in a 2:1 ratio; brief NET was 3 sessions, conducted individually, in Arabic. Positive indicators (posttraumatic growth and well-being) and symptoms (posttraumatic stress, depressive, and somatic) were assessed at baseline and 2- and 4-month follow-up. Treatment participation (95.1% completion) and study retention (98.4% provided follow-up data) were very high. Significant condition by time interactions showed that those receiving brief NET had greater posttraumatic growth (d = 0.83) and well-being (d = 0.54) through 4 months than controls. Brief NET reduced symptoms of posttraumatic stress (d = -0.48) and depression (d = -0.46) more, but only at 2 months; symptoms of controls also decreased from 2 to 4 months, eliminating condition differences at 4 months. Three sessions of brief NET increased growth and well-being and led to symptom reduction in highly traumatized Iraqi refugees. This preliminary study suggests that brief NET is both acceptable and potentially efficacious in traumatized Iraqi refugees. © 2014 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

depression refugee Implosive Therapy behavior therapy human Refugees middle aged controlled study Iraq narrative therapy randomized controlled trial ethnology United States Humans psychology male female adult Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Culturally Competent Care transcultural care Somatoform Disorders
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84902592162&doi=10.1002%2fjts.21922&partnerID=40&md5=3f67bc18605451ff83b316bf20cbc7b6
DOI: 10.1002/jts.21922
ISSN: 08949867
Cited by: 30
Original Language: English