Abstract
PURPOSE: To describe change in mental health after treatment with antidepressants and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy.
METHODS: Patients receiving treatment at the Psychiatric Trauma Clinic for Refugees in Copenhagen completed self-ratings of level of functioning, quality of life, and symptoms of PTSD, depression and anxiety before and after treatment. Changes in mental state and predictors of change were evaluated in a sample that all received well-described and comparable treatment.
RESULTS: 85 patients with PTSD or depression were included in the analysis. Significant improvement and effect size were observed on all rating scales (p-value <0.01 and Cohen's d 45-0.68). Correlation analysis showed no association between severity of symptoms at baseline and the observed change.
CONCLUSION: Despite methodological limitations, the finding of a significant improvement on all rating scales is important considering that previous follow-up studies of comparable patient populations have not found significant change in the patients'condition after treatment.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Torture |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1-16 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| ISSN | 1018-8185 |
| Publication status | Published - 2015 |
Keywords
- Adult
- Cognitive Therapy
- Denmark
- Depression
- Ethnic Groups
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Male
- Mental Health
- Middle Aged
- Quality of Life
- Refugees
- Retrospective Studies
- Torture
- Treatment Outcome
- Young Adult
