This study evaluates the addition of a group based stabilization and skill-training intervention to individual out-patient treatment for long lasting post-traumatic reactions. Half of the participants will receive the combined treatment while the other half will receive individual treatment as usual.
Many patients in mental health care have previously experienced life-stressors and traumatic events that are related to the problems they seek treatment for. Although the diagnostic labels vary, the clinical picture often demonstrates long lasting complex psychological and somatic post-traumatic symptoms such as avoidance, bodily activation, difficulties in regulating emotions and in relationships with others, impaired quality of life and reduced level of function. Patients often receive long-term individual therapy in general mental health care, occasionally without clinically significant improvement. Still, they continue treatment due to high symptom pressure and low level of functioning. The study targets a novel intervention which tests the effect of adding a group based stabilization and skill training intervention to conventional individual treatment among 160 patients already receiving treatment in a community mental health hospital. Change in variables covering mental health issues, functional impairment, well-being, use of hospital services and drug prescriptions will be examined, as well as markers of inflammation found in sera before and after intervention. The purpose is to develop better and more effective treatment options for a large number of patients who receive mental health care in community mental health hospitals.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
160
Group-based stabilization and skill training, weekly 2-hour sessions during 20 weeks. Based on the manual "Tilbake til Nåtid" ("Back to here and now") (Holbæk, 2014) developed by clinicians in the highly specialized national trauma clinic 'Modum Bad's Trauma Clinic'.
Treatment as usual: conventional individual treatment (outpatient). Not standardized.
Department of Tiller DPS, St. Olavs Hospital University Hospital in Trondheim
Trondheim, Norway
RECRUITINGQuestionnaire about Process of Recovery' (QPR) Change from baseline
Experienced personal recovery is measured by self-report; 'Questionnaire about Process of Recovery' (QPR)
Time frame: 4 weeks after intervention group has completed group treatment
Questionnaire about Process of Recovery' (QPR) Change from baseline
Experienced personal recovery is measured by self-report; 'Questionnaire about Process of Recovery' (QPR)
Time frame: 6 months after intervention group has completed group treatment
Questionnaire about Process of Recovery' (QPR) Change from baseline
Experienced personal recovery is measured by self-report; 'Questionnaire about Process of Recovery' (QPR)
Time frame: 12 months after intervention group has completed group treatment
The Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) change from baseline
Functional impairment associated with mental Health measured by self-report
Time frame: 4 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after intervention group has completed group treatment
The International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) change from baseline
Self-report to capture elements of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD)
Time frame: 4 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after intervention group has completed group treatment
The Clinical Outcome in Routine Evaluation (CORE-10) change from baseline
Sel-report measure of psychological distress, capturing general mental health issues.
Time frame: 4 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after intervention group has completed group treatment
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WHO Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) change from baseline
Questionnaire assessing subjective psychological well-being and also a measure of depression.
Time frame: 4 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after intervention group has completed group treatment
Posttraumatic Cognition Inventory (PTCI-9) change from baseline
Self-report measure of negative and dysfunctional posttraumatic cognitions
Time frame: 4 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after intervention group has completed group treatment