NCT01177072

Study of Effectiveness of Mental Health Interventions Among Torture Survivors in Southern Iraq

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 342 (actual)
• Sponsor: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

1. That the psychotherapeutic intervention - Components-Base Interventions (CBI) - is effective in reducing the severity of mental health symptoms experienced by torture survivors in Southern Iraq. 2. That the psychotherapeutic intervention - Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) - is effective in reducing the severity of mental health symptoms experienced by torture survivors in Southern Iraq.

Detailed description

For each intervention, participants will undergo 12 sessions (CBI or CPT) that are standardized by training and manual for community mental health workers (CHMWs). CMHWs will be trained in only one intervention. Prior to the starting sessions, a baseline assessment of depression, anxiety and trauma symptoms and function will be carried out. A follow up assessment will be carried out after the 12 sessions have been completed. Expected time between sessions is one week. The total time per client is expected to last about 4-5 months to complete the 12 therapy sessions. Participants will be randomized (within CMHW) to either immediate intervention or wait-list control. Participants that are wait-list control will be contacted monthly for assessment of condition. Any participant (intervention or control) with suicidal thoughts or distress that does not abate will be referred for psychiatric care.

Conditions

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Cognitive Processing Therapy	12 sessions of cognitive processing therapy. Sessions are expected to be approximately one week apart. Although each counseling session is designed to be carried out one week apart for a total of 12 weeks, there are many reasons why a session will be missed. Our estimation is that a single client will require 4-5 months to complete the therapy.
OTHER	Components-Based Intervention	This is a 'components-based' intervention include psychoeducation, relaxation, life-enhancing skills (problems solving and safety planning), exposure, and cognitive processing of life problems and traumatic events. The duration of sessions are approximately one hour), the expected frequency of treatment is weekly, and recommended number of sessions are 12.

Timeline

• Start date: 2011-03-01
• Primary completion: 2012-07-01
• Completion: 2012-07-01
• First posted: 2010-08-06
• Last updated: 2013-05-03

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Iraq