An RCT Comparing Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (a Specific Psychological Intervention) and A Child Friendly Space (a Non-trauma Focused Psychosocial Intervention) in Reducing Psychological Distress Among War-affected Children
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
- Sponsor
- Queen's University, Belfast
- Enrollment
- 50
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms as Measured by the University of California Los Angelus Post Traumatic Stress Disorder -Reaction Index
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 7 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
The investigators are interested in knowing whether a group-based, trauma-focused intervention (Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is superior to a more general, non trauma-focused, psychosocial intervention (Child Friendly Spaces) in reducing post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety and conduct problems and increasing pro-social behavior among war-affected children in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Investigators
Paul O'Callaghan
Principal Investigator
Queen's University, Belfast
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •under 18 years of age,
- •witness to a violent event involving a real or perceived direct threat to life,
- •ability to attend a 3-week intervention
Exclusion Criteria
- •psychosis,
- •mental retardation,
- •inability to understand Swahili,
- •severe emotional \& behavioral problems that made group participation impossible
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms as Measured by the University of California Los Angelus Post Traumatic Stress Disorder -Reaction Index
Time Frame: baseline, 3 week post-intervention and 6-month follow up
The UCLA PTSD Reaction Index is a self-report questionnaire that measures exposure to traumatic events and assesses post-tramatic stress symptoms in school-age children and adolescents. The Congolese Swahili version used in the study had 22 items and assesses the frequency of occurrence of PTSD symptoms during the past week (rated from 0 = none of the time to 4 = most of the time). The scale ranged from 0 (no symptoms) to 88 (highest score possible). Although no cut-off score was used, the higher the score of the scale the higher the number of PTSD symptoms experienced.
Secondary Outcomes
- Change in Pro-Social Behaviors as Measured by the African Youth Psychosocial Assessment Instrument(baseline, 3-week post-intervention, 6-month follow up)
- Change in Internalizing Symptoms as Measured by the African Youth Psychosocial Assessment Instrument(baseline, 3 week post-intervention and 6 month follow up)
- Change in Externalizing Symptoms as Measured by the African Youth Psychosocial Assessment Instrument(baseline, 3-week post-intervention, 6-month follow up)