Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) for Victims of the Recent Flood Disaster in Burundi

NCT02172066 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: UKCR2014
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 51
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

In the aftermath of natural disasters, e.g., flood disasters, there is a great need for humanitarian assistance in the domain of psychological support. This is particularly true in post-conflict settings because people have suffered severely from multiple traumatic events and situations during their lives. The Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) is a short-term, culturally sensitive treatment approach that aims to reduce Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms. The investigators want to provide evidence, that NET is an effective and efficient module to assist people in the aftermath of natural disasters using the example of the recent flood disaster in Burundi. In addition the investigators aim to explore, how traumatic incidences and maltreatment during childhood may influence treatment outcomes.

Conditions

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Keywords

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Childhood maltreatment

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change from baseline in Diagnosis and load of PTSD symptoms assessed via the Posttraumatic Symptom Scale - Interview (PSS-I) at 3 and 9 months follow-up

  baseline, 3-months-follow-up, 9-months-follow-up

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Change from baseline in load of depressive symptoms assessed via the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) at 3 months and 9 months follow-up

  baseline, 3-months-follow-up, 9-months-follow-up

• Change in strength of suicidal ideation measured via the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) at 3 months and 6 months follow-up

  baseline, 3-months-follow-up, 9-months-follow-up

Other Outcomes (2)

• Previous traumatic events measured via vivo Event Checklist for War, Detention and Torture Experiences

  baseline

• Adverse experiences during childhood measured via the Domestic and Community Violence Checklist

  3-months-follow-up

Study Arms (2)

Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)

EXPERIMENTAL

During NET, the client, with the assistance of the therapist, constructs a chronological narrative of his or her entire life with a focus on exposure to traumatic stress. Empathic understanding, active listening, congruency and unconditional positive regard are key components of the therapist's behavior. The therapist asks in detail for emotions, cognitions, sensory information, and physiological reactions to link the traumatic events to an autobiographical context, namely time and place. In total the Individuals receive 6 sessions of NET, every session lasting between 1,5 and 2 hr depending on the needs of the participant.

Behavioral: Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)

No treatment control

NO INTERVENTION

Interventions

Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) BEHAVIORAL

Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Individuals severely affected (e.g., who had lost their children) by the flood disaster in Bujumbura
• All participants were part of the emergency program of the Red Cross Burundi who assisted those most affected by the flood disaster in Bujumbura

You may not qualify if:

• Pregnancy
• Current substance dependence
• Psychotic symptoms

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Konstanz: lead
• Vivo international e.V.: collaborator
• Université Lumière de Bujumbura: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

vivo international e.V.; University Lumière de Bujumbura; Red Cross Burundi

Bujumbura, Burundi

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Anselm Crombach, Dr

  University of Konstanz

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 19, 2014
• First Posted: June 24, 2014
• Study Start: June 1, 2014
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2015
• Study Completion: May 1, 2015
• Last Updated: July 20, 2015

Record last verified: 2015-07

Locations

BU (1)