Narrative Exposure Therapy Versus Group Interpersonal Psychotherapy

NCT ID: NCT00623298

Last Updated: 2008-02-26

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: TERMINATED
• Clinical Phase: PHASE2
• Total Enrollment: 26 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2005-01-31
• Study Completion Date: 2006-03-31

Brief Summary

The present study is a pragmatic trial that investigates the efficacy and usefulness of two treatment modules in a sample of Rwandan genocide orphans: Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) versus group-Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT). We used a half year baseline to measure the treatment-induced changes. We hypothesized that there would be a greater reduction in posttraumatic stress symptoms in the NET- than in the IPT-group and that IPT would be superior to NET in the reduction of depression symptoms.

Detailed Description

The 1994 genocide of Rwanda has left countless children orphaned. 26 Rwandan orphans who fulfilled DSM-IV diagnosis of PTSD were offered participation in a controlled treatment trial. A group adaptation of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT, n = 14) was compared to Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET, n = 12). Main outcome measures were symptoms of PTSD and depression assessed pre-treatment, 3 months after therapy (post-test) and 6 months after therapy (follow-up) using the CAPS, MINI and Hamilton Rating Scale. At post-test, participants in both treatment conditions showed reductions in posttraumatic stress symptoms and depression symptoms. At 6-month follow-up, NET proved to be more effective in the treatment of PTSD. Only 25% (n = 3) of NET-participants but 71% (n = 10) of the IPT-participants still fulfilled PTSD criteria at follow-up. Although there was a significant reduction in depression symptoms in both treatment groups from pre-test to follow-up, NET again proved to be more effective. This treatment-trial demonstrates that NET and group-IPT are suitable treatment modules even when most severe traumatic stress and difficult living conditions have led to chronic mental suffering.

Conditions

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Depression; Narrative Exposure Therapy; Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NON_RANDOMIZED
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

1

NET

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Narrative Exposure Therapy

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

3

6-months baseline

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

6 months-baseline

Intervention Type: OTHER

2

group IPT

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

group IPT

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Interventions

Narrative Exposure Therapy

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

group IPT

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

6 months-baseline

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Rwandan orphans who have experienced the genocide, who lost at least one parent during the genocide and who were no older than 18 years during the genocide

Exclusion Criteria

• Mental retardation
• Psychotic symptoms or current drug or alcohol

• Minimum Eligible Age: 13 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 29 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

vivo

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of Konstanz

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

University of Konstanz, vivo

Other Identifiers

Fogr SOSS

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id