Psychiatry & Mental Health

Statement of the Problem: Refugee children and youth have among the highest rates of PTSD in the world and they make up over half of the population of refugees. Growing evidence suggests that promotion of resiliency is an important component to improvement of symptoms and optimal adaptation. This study examined the efficacy of Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) treatment, on symptom patterns and development of resiliency, for children and youth with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared with untreated children in a wait list control group (WLC) participating in a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Measures of behaviour and adaptive development were also utilized. Follow up evaluations were repeated at 3, 6 and 12 months after completion of a course of NET.Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: 300 refugee children and youth (7-25 years of age) with a DSM-V diagnosis of PTSD were randomly assigned to weekly NET sessions (8-12) or the WLC group. The UCLA-PTSD Trauma History and Reaction Index were used to evaluate their symptoms and outcome while measures of behaviour, resiliency, post-traumatic growth and adaptation are also administered at regular intervals.