A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial With Orphans and Widows Who Experienced the Rwandan Genocide
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
In the framework of the epidemiological study, local psychologists are trained in Butare in carrying out diagnostic interviews with orphans and widows who experienced the Rwandan genocide. With the aid of standardized questionnaires they will assess trauma related symptoms as well as Prolonged Grief Disorder. Under the supervision of clinical experts from the University of Konstanz the local psychologists will carry out a randomized house to house survey (Phase 1).
As a second step, a controlled randomized clinical trial will be carried out. Local psychologists will be trained in applying Narrative Exposure Therapy and Interpersonal Psychotherapy. Genocide survivors that will be identified with a PTSD diagnosis will randomly be assigned to either the treatment condition or a waiting list. The treatment group will receive 5 individual sessions of NET in addition to 3 individual IPT sessions. Subsequent 3-months and 6-months post-tests will serve to evaluate the efficacy of this treatment module in alleviating trauma related symptoms and symptoms of prolonged grief. We expect a significant symptom reduction in the experimental group and no significant symptom reduction in the waiting list. After the 6-months post-test, the trained psychologists will train other psychologists in applying this treatment module under the supervision of clinical experts from the University of Konstanz. Afterwards, they will apply therapy to the victims from the waiting list.
A 12-months follow-up will serve to evaluate the long-term effect of the NET/IPT combination.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Phase 1 |
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: 1 Intervention group A treatment combination of Narrative Exposure Therapy and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (5 individual sessions NET in addition to 3 individual sessions IPT) |
Behavioral: Narrative Exposure Therapy/Interpersonal Psychotherapy
The experimental group will receive 5 weekly individual sessions of NET in addition to 3 weekly individual sessions of IPT.
|
| No Intervention: 2 Waiting list control |
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Symptoms of PTSD, depression, prolonged grief disorder [12 months]
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
-
widows and orphans
-
confrontation of the Rwandan genocide
-
clinical diagnosis of PTSD
Exclusion Criteria:
-
mental retardation
-
psychotic symptoms
-
current drug or alcohol
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victims Voice | Butare | Province de Butare | Rwanda | 57645 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- University of Konstanz
- German Research Foundation
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Susanne Schaal, University of Konstanz
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- NET_IPT