Judith K. Bass|Jeannie Annan|Sarah Murray|Debra Kaysen|Shelly Griffiths|Talita Cetinoglu|Karin Wachter|Laura Murray|Paul Bolton
Controlled Trial of Psychotherapy for Congolese Survivors of Sexual Violence
Johns Hopkins University|International Rescue Committee|Johns Hopkins University|Harborview Medical Center|University of Washington|The University of Texas at Austin|Johns Hopkins University|Johns Hopkins University
survivors sexual violence high rates depression anxiety posttraumatic stress disorder ptsd although treatment symptoms related sexual violence shown effective highincome countries evidence lacking lowincome conflictaffected countriesin trial democratic republic congo randomly assigned 16 villages provide cognitive processing therapy 1 individual session 11 group sessions individual support female sexualviolence survivors high levels ptsd symptoms combined depression anxiety symptoms one village excluded owing concern competency psychosocial assistant resulting 7 villages provided therapy 157 women 8 villages provided individual support 248 women assessments combined depression anxiety symptoms average score hopkins symptom checklist range 0 3 higher scores indicating worse symptoms ptsd symptoms average score ptsd checklist range 0 3 higher scores indicating worse symptoms functional impairment average score across 20 tasks range 0 4 higher scores indicating greater impairment performed baseline end treatment 6 months treatment endeda total 65 participants therapy group 52 participants individualsupport group completed three assessments mean scores combined depression anxiety improved individualsupport group 22 baseline 17 end treatment 15 6 months treatment improvements significantly greater therapy group 20 baseline 08 end treatment 07 6 months treatment p0001 comparisons similar patterns observed ptsd functional impairment 6 months treatment 9 participants therapy group 42 participants individualsupport group met criteria probable depression anxiety p0001 similar results ptsdin study sexualviolence survivors lowincome conflictaffected country group psychotherapy reduced ptsd symptoms combined depression anxiety symptoms improved functioning funded us agency international development victims torture fund world bank clinicaltrialsgov number nct01385163