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conferenceseries
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Volume 20, Issue 7 (Suppl)
J Psychiatry
ISSN: 2378-5756 JOP, an open access journal
Psychiatry and Mental Health 2017
November 20-21, 2017
November 20-21, 2017 Melbourne, Australia
28
th
International Conference on
Psychiatry and Mental Health
Narrative exposure therapy as an intervention to promote resiliency in refugee children and youth
with PTSD
Anne Mantini
1
, Nazilla Khanlou
2
and Morton Beiser
1
1
St. Michael’s Hospital, Canada
2
York University, Canada
Statement of the Problem:
Refugee children and youth have among the highest rates of PTSD in the world and they make up
over half of the population of refugees. Growing evidence suggests that promotion of resiliency is an important component to
improvement of symptoms and optimal adaptation.
Purpose:
This study examined the efficacy of Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) treatment, on symptom patterns and
development of resiliency, for children and youth with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) compared with untreated children
in a Wait List Control group (WLC) participating in a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT). Measures of behavior and adaptive
development were also utilized. Follow up evaluations were repeated at 3, 6 and 12 months after completion of a course of NET.
Methodology &Theoretical Orientation:
300 refugee children and youth (7-25 years of age) with a DSM-V diagnosis of PTSD
were randomly assigned to weekly NET sessions (8-12) or the WLC group. The UCLA-PTSD trauma history and reaction
index were used to evaluate their symptoms and outcome while measures of behavior, resiliency, post-traumatic growth and
adaptation are also administered at regular intervals.
Findings:
Significant benefits were realized from the course of NET sessions. Scores from clinical symptoms declined
immediately during the course of NET sessions while the PTSD growth and resiliency increased significantly compared to
baseline and in relation to the control group. At each post-intervention evaluation point, up to twelve months, refugee children
and youth demonstrated benefits through resiliency, positive growth and improved PTSD symptoms.
Conclusions:
This is the first reported study to show benefits gained in resiliency from treatment of PTSD with NET among
refugee children and youth. Given the high prevalence of PTSD in refugee children and youth, intervention that addresses
clinical symptoms and supports resiliency and post-traumatic growth is essential.
mantinia@smh.caJ Psychiatry 2017, 20:7 (Suppl)
DOI: 10.4172/2378-5756-C1-030