Controlled Trial of Mental Health Interventions for Torture Survivors in Kurdistan

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to determine the relative effectiveness of three different mental health counseling interventions in the treatment of mental health problems commonly affecting torture and trauma survivors living in Kurdistan, Iraq.

Detailed Description
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See above

Official Title
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A Controlled Trial of Mental Health Interventions for Common Mental Health Problems Experienced by Torture Survivors Living in Kurdistan, Iraq.

Conditions
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Depression

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Cognitive Processing Therapy
* Behavioral: Behavioral Activation
* Behavioral: nonspecific counseling


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: at least 18 years old Kurdish torture survivor currently has significant depression symptomatology. Exclusion Criteria: danger to self or others already receiving treatment from our treatment provider not mentally competent to provide informed consent.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Cognitive Processing Therapy<br>An adaptation of cognitive behavioral therapy, focusing on treatment for persons suffering mental health effects of trauma | Behavioral: Cognitive Processing Therapy<br>* an adaptation of cognitive behavioral therapy used to address mental health effects of trauma exposure<br>* Other names: CPT;|
| Experimental: Behavioral Activation<br>A form of counseling therapy that emphasizes enhancing pleasurable behaviors and minimizing negative behaviors as a means to reducing depression symptomatology. | Behavioral: Behavioral Activation<br>* form of counseling intervention to promote positive behaviors and reduce negative behaviors as a means of reducing depression symptomatology and severity<br>* Other names: BA;|
| Experimental: non-specific counseling<br>a collection of counseling skills suitable for a broad range of mental health and psychosocial problems and not designed for specific disorders. This particular version was developed by a collaborator -Heartland Alliance - for use with torture survivors. | Behavioral: nonspecific counseling<br>* nonspecific counseling interventions useful for a broad range of mental health and psychosocial problems.<br>|
| No Intervention: wait control<br>persons in this study arm will not receive active treatment as part of the study but will be monitored during the study and offered treatment after 3-5 months of waiting. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| depression symptom severity |  | 3-6 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ability to carry out routine tasks and activities |  | 3-6 months | 
| anxiety symptom severity |  | 3-6 months | 
| posttraumatic stress disorder symptom severity |  | 3-6 months | 
| traumatic grief symptom severity |  | 3-6 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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mental health, randomized controlled trial, torture