Culturally modified cognitive processing therapy for Karen refugees with posttraumatic stress disorder: A pilot study

• Published in: Clinical psychology and psychotherapy Vol. 26; no. 5; pp. 531 - 539
• Main Authors: Bernardi, Jessica, Dahiya, Mini, Jobson, Laura
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley and Sons, Limited 01.09.2019
• Subjects: appraisals; Cognitive ability; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - methods; cognitive processing therapy; Culturally Competent Care - methods; Feasibility Studies; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Information processing; Male; Middle Aged; Myanmar; Patient Satisfaction - statistics & numerical data; Pilot Projects; Post traumatic stress disorder; posttraumatic stress disorder; refugee; Refugees; Refugees - psychology; Refugees - statistics & numerical data; Severity of Illness Index; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - therapy; Trauma; Myanmar; Myanmar (Burma); cognitive processing therapy; refugee; appraisals; posttraumatic stress disorder
• ISSN: 1063-3995; 1099-0879
• DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2373

Karen refugees, many originating from Myanmar, have suffered one of the longest civil wars in history and have thus witnessed and experienced substantial trauma. Refugees from Myanmar are currently one of the largest refugee groups being resettled in Western countries. This study investigated the feasibility and acceptability of a modified cognitive processing therapy (CPT) group program for Karen refugees with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; N =7). It was found that the CPT program was well accepted, with high satisfaction and no drop‐outs. At posttreatment all participants no longer met PTSD diagnostic criteria and had a reliable improvement in PTSD symptoms when compared with pretreatment scores. At 3‐month follow‐up four participants (57% of sample) did not meet PTSD diagnostic criteria and three participants (43%) had a reliable improvement in PTSD symptoms when compared with pretreatment scores. However, at follow‐up four participants (57% of the sample) had a reliable worsening in PTSD symptoms when compared with their posttreatment PTSD symptom levels. Although the study found that the modified CPT was acceptable and feasible, future research is needed to develop and enhance strategies to ensure that refugees benefit from empirically supported treatments.