Treatment Effects of Narrative Exposure Therapy

Treatment Effects of Narrative Exposure Therapy on Psychiatric Symptoms and Cortisol Levels in Patients With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

This study compares Narrative Exposure Therapy with a Waiting list control group, both consists of traumatized patients with diagnosed Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. The main aim is to investigate if the patients psychiatric symptoms and levels of the stress hormone cortisol will improve more after Narrative Exposure Therapy than the Waiting list (i.e. no intervention).

In this study we want to compare Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) to Waiting list controls. Adult patients with diagnosed Posttraumatic Stress Disorder following different types of trauma, will be included. Clinicians in psychiatric outpatient clinics will treat patients with NET, either immediately after assessment, or after a second assessment 3 months later. All patients will also be assessed 1 and 6 months after treatment completion. All patients will be assessed for psychiatric symptoms by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (version 5.0.0) and the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale. Patients will also answer several questionnaires (IES-R, SCL-90, BDI-II, DES and UCL). Baseline level of the stress hormone cortisol will be collected in saliva for measuring the diurnal cycle. We will investigate if patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder will show more symptom improvement with NET than those on the waiting list (i.e. no intervention) in addition to measuring potential differences in cortisol between the groups.

Treatment group, receives Narrative Exposure Therapy immediately after first assessment. Patients are assessed 1 and 6 months after treatment.

Waiting list control group, receives no intervention for 3 months after first assessment. A second assessment is then administered and patients receives Narrative Exposure Therapy. Patients are assessed 1 and 6 months after treatment.

Psychological treatment, with narration of positive and traumatic events in patients history, including "in vivo" exposure of traumatic events. The narrative is written down by the therapist.

Inclusion Criteria: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Age above 18 years Understands, speaks and writes Norwegian Informed, written consent Exclusion Criteria: Active psychosis Active suicidality Serious self mutilation Active alcohol or drug abuse Serious dissociative symptoms Disease in nervous system or head injury Hormonal disease Pregnancy