The effect of flexible cognitive-behavioural therapy and medical treatment, including antidepressants on post-traumatic stress disorder and depression in traumatised refugees: pragmatic randomised controlled clinical trial
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
BACKGROUND: Little evidence exists on the treatment of traumatised refugees.
AIMS: To estimate treatment effects of flexible cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and antidepressants (sertraline and mianserin) in traumatised refugees.
METHOD: Randomised controlled clinical trial with 2 × 2 factorial design (registered with Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00917397, EUDRACT no. 2008-006714-15). Participants were refugees with war-related traumatic experiences, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and without psychotic disorder. Treatment was weekly sessions with a physician and/or psychologist over 6 months.
RESULTS: A total of 217 of 280 patients completed treatment (78%). There was no effect on PTSD symptoms, no effect of psychotherapy and no interaction between psychotherapy and medicine. A small but significant effect of treatment with antidepressants was found on depression.
CONCLUSIONS: In a pragmatic clinical setting, there was no effect of flexible CBT and antidepressants on PTSD, and there was a small-to-moderate effect of antidepressants and psychoeducation on depression in traumatised refugees.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | British Journal of Psychiatry |
| Volume | 208 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Pages (from-to) | 252-9 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| ISSN | 0007-1250 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 2016 |
- Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research areas
ID: 164455393