European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Volume 27, Issue 4, 2018, Pages 467-479

Teaching Recovery Techniques: evaluation of a group intervention for unaccompanied refugee minors with symptoms of PTSD in Sweden (Article) (Open Access)

Sarkadi A.* , Ådahl K. , Stenvall E. , Ssegonja R. , Batti H. , Gavra P. , Fängström K. , Salari R.
  • a Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, BMC, Husargatan 3, Uppsala, 753 27, Sweden
  • b Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, BMC, Husargatan 3, Uppsala, 753 27, Sweden
  • c Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, BMC, Husargatan 3, Uppsala, 753 27, Sweden
  • d Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, BMC, Husargatan 3, Uppsala, 753 27, Sweden
  • e Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, BMC, Husargatan 3, Uppsala, 753 27, Sweden
  • f Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, BMC, Husargatan 3, Uppsala, 753 27, Sweden
  • g Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, BMC, Husargatan 3, Uppsala, 753 27, Sweden
  • h Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, BMC, Husargatan 3, Uppsala, 753 27, Sweden

Abstract

In 2015, a total of 35,369 unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs) sought asylum in Sweden. In a previous study of 208 URMs, we found that 76% screened positive for PTSD. This study aimed to (1) evaluate the indicated prevention program Teaching Recovery Techniques (TRT) in a community setting and describe the program’s effects on symptoms of PTSD and depression in URMs; and (2) examine participants’ experiences of the program. The study included 10 groups. Methods for evaluation included the Children’s Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES-8) and the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale Self-report (MADRS-S) at baseline and at post-intervention. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 22 participating URMs to elicit their experiences. Pre- and post-measures were available for 46 participants. At baseline, 83% of the participants reported moderate or severe depression and 48% suicidal ideation or plans. Although more than half (62%) of the participants reported negative life events during the study period, both PTSD (CRIES-8) and depression (MADRS-S) symptoms decreased significantly after the intervention (p = 0.017, 95% CI − 5.55; − 0.58; and p < 0.001, 95% CI − 8.94; − 2.88, respectively). The qualitative content analysis resulted in six overall categories: social support, normalisation, valuable tools, comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness when the youth described their experiences of the program, well reflecting TRT’s program theory. Overall, results indicate that TRT, delivered in a community setting, is a promising indicated preventive intervention for URMs with PTSD symptoms. This successful evaluation should be followed up with a controlled study. © 2017, The Author(s).

Author Keywords

unaccompanied refugee minors Depression Teaching Recovery Technique (TRT) PTSD prevention

Index Keywords

personal experience depression refugee psychoeducation human Refugees Minors social support asylum seeker Sweden Humans psychology Adolescent male female Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale qualitative analysis Impact of Events Scale Children Revised Impact of Event Scale 8 teaching recovery technique symptom Article minor (person) major clinical study posttraumatic stress disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic disease severity therapy effect suicidal ideation Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85038354029&doi=10.1007%2fs00787-017-1093-9&partnerID=40&md5=6427af8c4cf8b0b177839055d061bd91
DOI: 10.1007/s00787-017-1093-9
ISSN: 10188827
Cited by: 8
Original Language: English