Prevention of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Soldiers

Prevention of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Relation to Appetitive Aggression in Burundian Soldiers Deployed in a Peace-keeping Mission in Somalia

Soldiers in conflict or former conflict regions deployed in peace-keeping missions were and are often exposed to multiple traumatic events and situations in which they are forced to engage in violent behavior. The Preventive Narrative Exposure Therapy (Pre-NET) aims to reinforce resilience thereby reducing the risk of developing or aggravating PTSD or other mental disorders as a result of traumatic experiences. The effective prevention of mental disorders as a result of war deployment is expected to facilitate reintegration in civil life after deployment and reduce uncontrolled violence.

Post-traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD), Aggressive Behavior, Appetitive Aggression, Resilience, Preventive Narrative Exposure Therapy

During Pre-NET the client, with the assistance of the therapist, constructs a chronological narrative of his whole life with a focus on exposure to traumatic stress. Empathic understanding, active listening, congruency and unconditional positive regard are key components of the therapist's behavior who asks in detail for emotions, cognitions, sensory information, and physiological reactions, linking them to an autobiographical context. During two sessions a chronological overview of the whole life with a focus on traumatic events is developed and the most important traumatic experiences are processed.

Severity of traumatic symptoms measured via the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Scale-Interview (PSS-I)

Inclusion Criteria: Exposure to traumatic experiences derived from expert interviews with scores of the Traumatic Life Event List for War and Torture Soldiers are part of the Burundian army and of the joint African Union and United Nations peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Exclusion Criteria: Current use of mind altering drugs Psychotic symptoms