Testimony method to ameliorate post-traumatic stress symptoms: Community-based intervention study with Mozambican civil war survivors

Article

Igreja, Victor, Kleijn, Wim C., Schreuder, Bas J. N., Van Dijk, Janie A. and Verschuur, Margot. 2004. "Testimony method to ameliorate post-traumatic stress symptoms: Community-based intervention study with Mozambican civil war survivors." British Journal of Psychiatry. 184 (3), pp. 251-257. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.184.3.251
Article Title

Testimony method to ameliorate post-traumatic stress symptoms: Community-based intervention study with Mozambican civil war survivors

ERA Journal ID13071
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsIgreja, Victor (Author), Kleijn, Wim C. (Author), Schreuder, Bas J. N. (Author), Van Dijk, Janie A. (Author) and Verschuur, Margot (Author)
Journal TitleBritish Journal of Psychiatry
Journal Citation184 (3), pp. 251-257
Number of Pages6
Year2004
Place of PublicationUnited Kingdom
ISSN0007-1250
1472-1465
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.184.3.251
Web Address (URL)https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/testimony-method-to-ameliorate-posttraumatic-stress-symptoms/D1172109A2F5312C5947DBB02AD539D2
Abstract

Background: The effectiveness of the testimony method has not been established in rural communities with survivors of prolonged civil war.

Aims: To examine the effectiveness and feasibility of a testimony method to ameliorate post-traumatic stress symptoms.

Method: Participants (n=206) belonged to former war zones in Mozambique. They were divided into a case (n=137) and a non-casegroup (n=69). The case group was randomly divided into an intervention (n=66) and a control group (n=71). Symptoms were measured during baseline assessment, post-intervention and at an 11-month follow-up.

Results: Post-intervention measurements demonstrated significant symptom reduction in both the intervention and the control group. No significant differences were found between the intervention and the control group. Follow-up measurements showed sustained lower levels of symptoms in both groups, and some indications of a positive intervention effect in women.

Conclusions: A remarkable drop in symptoms could not be linked directly to the intervention. Feasibility of the intervention was good, but controlling the intervention in a small rural community appeared to be a difficult task to accomplish.

ANZSRC Field of Research 2020420313. Mental health services
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Byline AffiliationsAssociation of Hope for All, Mozambique
Leiden University Medical Centre, Netherlands
Radboud University Medical Centre, Netherlands
ARQ Centrum '45, Netherlands
Leiden University, Netherlands
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
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