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

Caecilie Böck Buhmann; Merete Nordentoft; Morten Ekstrøm; Jessica Mariana Carlsson Lohmann; Erik Lykke Mortensen

doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.114.150961

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

Caecilie Böck Buhmann, Merete Nordentoft, Morten Ekstrøm, Jessica Mariana Carlsson Lohmann, Erik Lykke Mortensen

46 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Little evidence exists on the treatment of traumatised refugees.

AIMS: To estimate treatment effects of flexible cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and antidepressants (sertraline and mianserin) in traumatised refugees.

METHOD: Randomised controlled clinical trial with 2 × 2 factorial design (registered with Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00917397, EUDRACT no. 2008-006714-15). Participants were refugees with war-related traumatic experiences, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and without psychotic disorder. Treatment was weekly sessions with a physician and/or psychologist over 6 months.

RESULTS: A total of 217 of 280 patients completed treatment (78%). There was no effect on PTSD symptoms, no effect of psychotherapy and no interaction between psychotherapy and medicine. A small but significant effect of treatment with antidepressants was found on depression.

CONCLUSIONS: In a pragmatic clinical setting, there was no effect of flexible CBT and antidepressants on PTSD, and there was a small-to-moderate effect of antidepressants and psychoeducation on depression in traumatised refugees.

Original language	English
Journal	British Journal of Psychiatry
Volume	208
Issue number	3
Pages (from-to)	252-9
Number of pages	8
ISSN	0007-1250
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.114.150961
Publication status	Published - Mar 2016

Keywords

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Buhmann, C. B., Nordentoft, M., Ekstrøm, M., Lohmann, J. M. C., & Mortensen, E. L. (2016). 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. British Journal of Psychiatry, 208(3), 252-9. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.114.150961

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. / Buhmann, Caecilie Böck; Nordentoft, Merete; Ekstrøm, Morten et al.

In: British Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 208, No. 3, 03.2016, p. 252-9.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Buhmann, CB, Nordentoft, M, Ekstrøm, M, Lohmann, JMC & Mortensen, EL 2016, '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', British Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 208, no. 3, pp. 252-9. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.114.150961

Buhmann CB, Nordentoft M, Ekstrøm M, Lohmann JMC , 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. British Journal of Psychiatry. 2016 Mar;208(3):252-9. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.150961

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abstract = "BACKGROUND: Little evidence exists on the treatment of traumatised refugees.AIMS: To estimate treatment effects of flexible cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and antidepressants (sertraline and mianserin) in traumatised refugees.METHOD: Randomised controlled clinical trial with 2 × 2 factorial design (registered with Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00917397, EUDRACT no. 2008-006714-15). Participants were refugees with war-related traumatic experiences, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and without psychotic disorder. Treatment was weekly sessions with a physician and/or psychologist over 6 months.RESULTS: A total of 217 of 280 patients completed treatment (78%). There was no effect on PTSD symptoms, no effect of psychotherapy and no interaction between psychotherapy and medicine. A small but significant effect of treatment with antidepressants was found on depression.CONCLUSIONS: In a pragmatic clinical setting, there was no effect of flexible CBT and antidepressants on PTSD, and there was a small-to-moderate effect of antidepressants and psychoeducation on depression in traumatised refugees.",

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