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A network meta-analysis of psychosocial interventions for refugees and asylum seekers with PTSD (BMJ Global Health)

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Home / Resources / PTSD / A network meta-analysis of psychosocial interventions for refugees and asylum seekers with PTSD (BMJ Global Health)

A network meta-analysis of psychosocial interventions for refugees and asylum seekers with PTSD

CBT and EMDR appeared to have the greatest effects in reducing PTSD symptoms in asylum seekers and refugees.


Article Abstract

“Introduction: Refugees and asylum seekers are vulnerable to common mental disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Using a network meta-analysis (NMA) approach, the present systematic review compared and ranked psychosocial interventions for the treatment of PTSD in adult refugees and asylum seekers.

Methods: Randomised studies of psychosocial interventions for adult refugees and asylum seekers with PTSD were systematically identified. PTSD symptoms at postintervention was the primary outcome. Standardised mean differences (SMDs) and ORs were pooled using pairwise and NMA. Study quality was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB) tool, and certainty of evidence was assessed through the Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis application.

Results: A total of 23 studies with 2308 participants were included. Sixteen studies were conducted in high-income countries, and seven in low-income or middle-income countries. Most studies were at low risk of bias according to the Cochrane RoB tool. NMA on PTSD symptoms showed that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) (SMD=−1.41; 95% CI −2.43 to −0.38) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) (SMD=−1.30; 95% CI −2.40 to −0.20) were significantly more effective than waitlist (WL). CBT was also associated with a higher decrease in PTSD symptoms than treatment as usual (TAU) (SMD −1.51; 95% CI −2.67 to −0.36). For all other interventions, the difference with WL and TAU was not significant. CBT and EMDR ranked best according to the mean surface under the cumulative ranking. Regarding acceptability, no intervention had less dropouts than inactive interventions.

Conclusion: CBT and EMDR appeared to have the greatest effects in reducing PTSD symptoms in asylum seekers and refugees. This evidence should be considered in guidelines and implementation packages to facilitate dissemination and uptake in refugee settings.”

—Description from publisher

Article Access

Open Access

Turrini, G., Tedeschi, F., Cuijpers, P., Del Giovane, C., Kip, A., Morina, N., Nose, M., Ostuzzi, G., Purgato, M., Ricciardi, C., Sijbrandij, M., Tol, W., & Barbui, C. (2021). A network meta-analysis of psychosocial interventions for refugees and asylum seekers with PTSD. BMJ Global Health, 6(6), e005029. Open access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2021-005029  

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Basic Info Collapse

Date
May 24, 2021

Creator(s)
Giulia Turrini, Federico Tedeschi, Pim Cuijpers

Contributor(s)
Cinzia Del Giovane, Ahlke Kip, Nexhmedin Morina, Michela Nosè, Giovanni Ostuzzi, Marianna Purgato, Chiara Ricciardi, Marit Sijbrandij, Wietse Tol, Corrado Barbui

Topics
PTSD

Client Population
Immigrants/Refugees

More Info Collapse

Extent
11 pages

Publisher
BMJ

Rights
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions.

APA Citation
Turrini, G., Tedeschi, F., Cuijpers, P., Del Giovane, C., Kip, A., Morina, N., Nose, M., Ostuzzi, G., Purgato, M., Ricciardi, C., Sijbrandij, M., Tol, W., & Barbui, C. (2021). A network meta-analysis of psychosocial interventions for refugees and asylum seekers with PTSD. BMJ Global Health, 6(6), e005029. Open access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2021-005029  

Audience
EMDR Therapists, Other Mental Health Professionals

Language
English

Content Type
Article, Meta-analyses/Systematic Reviews, Peer-Reviewed

Access Type
External Resource, Open Access

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