Case Series for Traumatized Refugees With Khat Dependence

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Khat Use Disorder
• Interventions: Behavioral: Integrated Psychotherapeutic Intervention

• Registration Number: NCT02259530
• Lead Sponsor: University of Konstanz

Brief Summary

The research project will offer psychotherapeutic treatment to Somali refugees with PTSD and comorbid khat dependence. In this case series, evidence-based techniques will be applied and adapted to the cultural background of Somali refugees in Kenya.

Detailed Description

More than 500.000 Somali refugees live in Kenya. This group is especially burdened by high rates of exposure to traumatic events, high prevalence of PTSD and a high comorbidity with substance use disorders, mainly related to khat (catha edulis). There's a shortage of literature on psychotherapeutic methods that are applicable in this group. The aim of this case series is to develop modifications of standard therapeutic techniques to the Somali culture and to the needs of this group. Twenty successive cases will be recruited from a community clinic where refugees often seek for treatment because of psychiatric problems. Senior level psychotherapists will apply and adapt techniques and approaches like Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA), Relapse Prevention (RP), and Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET); all sessions will be video recorded. Regular supervision with external experts and group discussions will be held to evaluate and adapt the single procedures and techniques. The aim of this study is the development of a standardized approach that can be used in a Randomized Controlled Trial which will be conduced in the future.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2014-09-30
• Study First Submitted QC: 2014-10-05
• Study First Posted: 2014-10-08
• Study Start: 2015-01
• Primary Completion: 2015-09
• Study Completion: 2015-12
• Status Verified: 2017-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-05-10
• Last Update Posted: 2017-05-11

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 20

Inclusion Criteria

PTSD (DSM-IV) Khat Dependence (DSM-IV)

Exclusion Criteria

Severe Psychotic Disorder Suicidality Mental Disability

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Integrated Psychotherapeutic Intervention	Integrated Psychotherapeutic Intervention	Integrated treatment of khat use disorder and PTSD

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS)	3 months	Pre-post change of self-reported PTSD-symptom severity
Time-Line Follow Back(TLFB)	3 months	Pre-post change of self-reported days with khat use

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL)	3 months	Pre-post change of self-reported depressive symptoms

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Africa Mental Health Foundation; 🇰🇪 Nairobi, Kenya