Comparing the effectiveness of narrative therapy and EMDR-GTEP protocols in the treatment of post-traumatic stress in children exposed to humanitarian crises
BackgroundThe mental health of children living in humanitarian crisis situations is a major issue. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) causes great psychological suffering and has negative consequences on children's development. The aim of the study was to analyze retrospective data collected...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frcha.2024.1320688/full |
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| author | Elisabetta Dozio Elisabetta Dozio Cécile Bizouerne Valdes Wamba Ninon Atienza |
| author_facet | Elisabetta Dozio Elisabetta Dozio Cécile Bizouerne Valdes Wamba Ninon Atienza |
| author_sort | Elisabetta Dozio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe mental health of children living in humanitarian crisis situations is a major issue. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) causes great psychological suffering and has negative consequences on children's development. The aim of the study was to analyze retrospective data collected in a mental health and psychosocial support program for children in the Central African Republic, and to compare results of two trauma-focused treatment interventions: the narrative protocol Action contre la Faim (ACF)/KONO; and the EMDR-based Group Trauma Episode Protocol (G-TEP). Both protocols are proposed in a group setting and led by paraprofessionals.MethodsIn the program, 884 children attended a psychoeducation session and after that, 661 children (290 for ACF/KONO and 371 for G-TEP) benefited from all treatment sessions. PTSD was measured by the Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES-8). General distress was measured by the Child Psychosocial Distress Screener (CPDS). Data were collected before and after treatment, and measured 5 months after the end of treatment for 185 children.ResultsParticipants in the ACF/KONO group show a significant reduction on CRIES-8 (t = 44.8; p < 0.001, effect size = 2.63) and CPDS (t = 38.2; p < 0.001, effect size = 2.24). Participants to the G-TEP protocol show a significant effect with reduced scores on the CRIES-8 (t = 49.2; p < 0.001, effect size = 2.55) and CPDS (t = 57.2; p < 0.001, effect size = 2.97). A Student's t-test comparing the ACF/KONO and G-TEP groups shows no significant difference between the two types of treatment between pre- and post-treatment CRIES-8 scores (t = 1.744; p = 0.514, effect size = 0.040) and CPDS scores (t = 1.688; p = 0.092, effect size = 0.323). An analysis of the follow-up data for the 185 children shows that the effects of both protocols are maintained over time with mean scores after treatment and follow-up below the clinical cut-off for both CPDS (<8) and CRIES-8 (<17).ConclusionsBoth protocols have been shown to be effective in reducing traumatic symptoms in children exposed to conflict; they can be conducted by paraprofessionals and used in humanitarian crisis situations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d4e600cbf0e3481abf2419af6fc55673 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2813-4540 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-d4e600cbf0e3481abf2419af6fc556732025-01-20T14:26:13ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry2813-45402024-05-01310.3389/frcha.2024.13206881320688Comparing the effectiveness of narrative therapy and EMDR-GTEP protocols in the treatment of post-traumatic stress in children exposed to humanitarian crisesElisabetta Dozio0Elisabetta Dozio1Cécile Bizouerne2Valdes Wamba3Ninon Atienza4Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, Action contre la Faim, Paris, FranceINSERM U1018 Centre de Recherche en Épidémiologie et Santé des Populations (CESP), Villejuif, FranceIndependent Researcher, Paris, FranceMental Health and Psychosocial Support, Action contre la Faim, Paris, FranceMental Health and Psychosocial Support, Action contre la Faim, Paris, FranceBackgroundThe mental health of children living in humanitarian crisis situations is a major issue. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) causes great psychological suffering and has negative consequences on children's development. The aim of the study was to analyze retrospective data collected in a mental health and psychosocial support program for children in the Central African Republic, and to compare results of two trauma-focused treatment interventions: the narrative protocol Action contre la Faim (ACF)/KONO; and the EMDR-based Group Trauma Episode Protocol (G-TEP). Both protocols are proposed in a group setting and led by paraprofessionals.MethodsIn the program, 884 children attended a psychoeducation session and after that, 661 children (290 for ACF/KONO and 371 for G-TEP) benefited from all treatment sessions. PTSD was measured by the Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES-8). General distress was measured by the Child Psychosocial Distress Screener (CPDS). Data were collected before and after treatment, and measured 5 months after the end of treatment for 185 children.ResultsParticipants in the ACF/KONO group show a significant reduction on CRIES-8 (t = 44.8; p < 0.001, effect size = 2.63) and CPDS (t = 38.2; p < 0.001, effect size = 2.24). Participants to the G-TEP protocol show a significant effect with reduced scores on the CRIES-8 (t = 49.2; p < 0.001, effect size = 2.55) and CPDS (t = 57.2; p < 0.001, effect size = 2.97). A Student's t-test comparing the ACF/KONO and G-TEP groups shows no significant difference between the two types of treatment between pre- and post-treatment CRIES-8 scores (t = 1.744; p = 0.514, effect size = 0.040) and CPDS scores (t = 1.688; p = 0.092, effect size = 0.323). An analysis of the follow-up data for the 185 children shows that the effects of both protocols are maintained over time with mean scores after treatment and follow-up below the clinical cut-off for both CPDS (<8) and CRIES-8 (<17).ConclusionsBoth protocols have been shown to be effective in reducing traumatic symptoms in children exposed to conflict; they can be conducted by paraprofessionals and used in humanitarian crisis situations.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frcha.2024.1320688/fullPTSDchildrenparaprofessionalEMDRG-TEPCBT |
| spellingShingle | Elisabetta Dozio Elisabetta Dozio Cécile Bizouerne Valdes Wamba Ninon Atienza Comparing the effectiveness of narrative therapy and EMDR-GTEP protocols in the treatment of post-traumatic stress in children exposed to humanitarian crises Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry PTSD children paraprofessional EMDR G-TEP CBT |
| title | Comparing the effectiveness of narrative therapy and EMDR-GTEP protocols in the treatment of post-traumatic stress in children exposed to humanitarian crises |
| title_full | Comparing the effectiveness of narrative therapy and EMDR-GTEP protocols in the treatment of post-traumatic stress in children exposed to humanitarian crises |
| title_fullStr | Comparing the effectiveness of narrative therapy and EMDR-GTEP protocols in the treatment of post-traumatic stress in children exposed to humanitarian crises |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparing the effectiveness of narrative therapy and EMDR-GTEP protocols in the treatment of post-traumatic stress in children exposed to humanitarian crises |
| title_short | Comparing the effectiveness of narrative therapy and EMDR-GTEP protocols in the treatment of post-traumatic stress in children exposed to humanitarian crises |
| title_sort | comparing the effectiveness of narrative therapy and emdr gtep protocols in the treatment of post traumatic stress in children exposed to humanitarian crises |
| topic | PTSD children paraprofessional EMDR G-TEP CBT |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frcha.2024.1320688/full |
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