Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry
2019

Implementing Narrative Exposure Therapy for unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors with post-traumatic stress disorder: A pilot feasibility report (Article)

Said G. , King D.*
  • a Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, United Kingdom
  • b Berkshire Traumatic Stress Service, Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom

Abstract

There are high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors (UAM) and there is a requirement for feasible, acceptable and evidence-based treatments. Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) is a short-term treatment for PTSD following multiple traumatic events. This article aims to examine the applicability of NET for UAM in routine clinical practice and to provide preliminary feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness data. The participants were four UAM receiving NET within a dedicated child and adolescent mental health service for refugee children. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to understand the acceptability of this approach and standardised measures of PTSD were used to provide preliminary data regarding the effectiveness of NET for these clients. The clients attended NET consistently with few missed appointments. At post-treatment, two clients’ symptom scores were below the clinical cut-off for PTSD and all three clients who completed NET met reliable improvement criteria. The clients reported improvements in functional outcomes and mentioned that they would encourage other young people with similar difficulties to engage in NET. This study was limited by the small sample size and naturalistic time limitations in clinicians’ contracts. This article highlights that it is possible to implement NET within routine clinical practice and observed improvements in PTSD symptoms and functional outcomes for UAM. © The Author(s) 2019.

Author Keywords

Post-traumatic stress disorder Narrative exposure therapy Refugee children Evidence-based practice looked-after children unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors Adolescence

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85069875853&doi=10.1177%2f1359104519864123&partnerID=40&md5=956f88d99a5698d92e4eb5a244b9c612

DOI: 10.1177/1359104519864123
ISSN: 13591045
Original Language: English