Psychological and Psychosocial Intervention With War-Affected Children
- Conditions
- DepressionAnxietyConductPro-social BehaviorStress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral TherapyBehavioral: Child Friendly Space
- Registration Number
- NCT01509872
- Lead Sponsor
- Queen's University, Belfast
- 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.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 50
- 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
- psychosis,
- mental retardation,
- inability to understand Swahili,
- severe emotional & behavioral problems that made group participation impossible
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (Cohen, Mannarino, Deblinger, 2006; Smith and Saunders, 2005) is a child-friendly, manualised psychological intervention for children who experience nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, anger, social isolation, poor concentration or self-blame after experiencing or witnessing a violent and terrifying life event (e.g. rape, murder, abduction etc). This intervention was culturally modified for use with war-affected children. A Child Friendly Space Child Friendly Space A Child Friendly Space is a psychosocial intervention combining creative (e.g. art), imaginative (e.g. drama), physical (e.g. football), communicative (e.g. group discussions) and manipulative activities (e.g. story telling). It aids children's natural development by providing a safe place for children to learn, express themselves, grow and develop, supported by trained animators and peer educators.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms as Measured by the University of California Los Angelus Post Traumatic Stress Disorder -Reaction Index 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 Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in Pro-Social Behaviors as Measured by the African Youth Psychosocial Assessment Instrument baseline, 3-week post-intervention, 6-month follow up The African Youth Psychosocial Assessment Instrument is a self-report questionnaire that measures internalizing, externalizing, conduct and pro-social (daily life functioning) skills symptoms. The Congolese Swahili version of the AYPA contained 8 questions about pro-social behavior and assesses the frequency of occurrence of positive behaviors (e.g. sharing with others, listening to others and elders etc.) during the past week (rated from 0 = none of the time to 4 = most of the time). The lowest score obtainable on the measure was 0, while the highest score obtainable was 32. Although no cut-off score was used, the higher the score on the scale, the more pro-social the individual's behavior is.
Change in Internalizing Symptoms as Measured by the African Youth Psychosocial Assessment Instrument baseline, 3 week post-intervention and 6 month follow up The African Youth Psychosocial Assessment Instrument is a self-report questionnaire that measures internalizing, externalizing, conduct and pro-social (daily life functioning) skills symptoms. The Congolese Swahili version of the AYPA contained 19 questions on internalizing symptoms and assesses the frequency of occurrence of internalizing symptoms during the past week (rated from 0 = none of the time to 4 = most of the time). The lowest score obtainable on the measure was 0, while the highest score obtainable was 76. Although no cut-off score was used, the higher the score on the scale, the greater the psychosocial distress being reported.
Change in Externalizing Symptoms as Measured by the African Youth Psychosocial Assessment Instrument baseline, 3-week post-intervention, 6-month follow up The African Youth Psychosocial Assessment Instrument is a self-report questionnaire that measures internalizing, externalizing, conduct and pro-social (daily life functioning) skills symptoms. The Congolese Swahili version of the AYPA contained 10 questions about symptoms of conduct disorder and assesses the frequency of occurrence of externalizing symptoms during the past week (rated from 0 = none of the time to 4 = most of the time). The lowest score obtainable on the measure was 0, while the highest score obtainable was 40. Although no cut-off score was used, the higher the score on the scale, the greater the psychosocial adjustment difficulties being reported.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Child Friendly Space
🇨🇬Mwenga, South Kivu, Congo