Treatment Effects of Narrative Exposure Therapy on Psychiatric Symptoms and Cortisol Levels in Patients With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Overview
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- Sponsor
- University of Bergen
- Enrollment
- 40
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Psychiatric symptoms
- Last Updated
- 18 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
This study compares Narrative Exposure Therapy with a Waiting list control group, both consists of traumatized patients with diagnosed Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. The main aim is to investigate if the patients psychiatric symptoms and levels of the stress hormone cortisol will improve more after Narrative Exposure Therapy than the Waiting list (i.e. no intervention).
Detailed Description
In this study we want to compare Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) to Waiting list controls. Adult patients with diagnosed Posttraumatic Stress Disorder following different types of trauma, will be included. Clinicians in psychiatric outpatient clinics will treat patients with NET, either immediately after assessment, or after a second assessment 3 months later. All patients will also be assessed 1 and 6 months after treatment completion. All patients will be assessed for psychiatric symptoms by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (version 5.0.0) and the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale. Patients will also answer several questionnaires (IES-R, SCL-90, BDI-II, DES and UCL). Baseline level of the stress hormone cortisol will be collected in saliva for measuring the diurnal cycle. We will investigate if patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder will show more symptom improvement with NET than those on the waiting list (i.e. no intervention) in addition to measuring potential differences in cortisol between the groups.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- •Age above 18 years
- •Understands, speaks and writes Norwegian
- •Informed, written consent
Exclusion Criteria
- •Active psychosis
- •Active suicidality
- •Serious self mutilation
- •Active alcohol or drug abuse
- •Serious dissociative symptoms
- •Disease in nervous system or head injury
- •Hormonal disease
- •Pregnancy
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Psychiatric symptoms
Time Frame: 1 and 6 months after treatment
Secondary Outcomes
- Cortisol in saliva(1 and 6 months after treatment)