The Outcome of Treatment of Traumatised Refugees With Psychotherapy and/or Antidepressants

Summary

The purpose of the study is to investigate the effect of treatment of traumatized refugees with a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The existing evidence point towards antidepressants of the type SSRI and trauma-focused cognitive Behavioural Therapy being the most effective treatments of PTSD, but very little evidence of treatment effects exist for the group of multitraumatized refugees. This study therefore seeks to investigate the treatment effect of 6 months drug therapy with antidepressants (Sertraline and/ or Mianserine) and/or trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. A total of 200 individual will undergo treatment. They will be randomized to 4 different groups: antidepressants, psychotherapy, a combination og drug and psychotherapy and a waiting list. Outcome measures include symptoms, life quality and function. Patients with a diagnosis of drug abuse or psychosis will not be included. The hypothesis is that a combination of antidepressants and psychotherapy will be more effective than either of the two treatment regimes on their own.

Timeline

Start

2009-06

Primary completion

2014-04

Completion

2014-04

Publications

• Buhmann CB, Nordentoft M, Ekstroem M, Carlsson J, Mortensen EL. Long-term treatment effect of trauma-affected refugees with flexible cognitive behavioural therapy and antidepressants. Psychiatry Res. 2018 Jun;264:217-223. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.03.069. Epub 2018 Apr 4.
• Buhmann CB, Nordentoft M, Ekstroem M, Carlsson J, Mortensen EL. The effect of flexible cognitive-behavioural therapy and medical treatment, including antidepressants on post-traumatic stress disorder and depression in traumatised refugees: pragmatic randomised controlled clinical trial. Br J Psychiatry. 2016 Mar;208(3):252-9. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.150961. Epub 2015 Nov 5.

Drugs

Indications